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AS THE GODS 
DECREE 

A NOVEL OF THE TIME OF AUGUSTUS 


By 

DANIEL HENRY MORRIS 

n 



BROADWAY PUBLISHING CO. 

835 Broadway y New York 

BRANCH OFFICES: CHICAGO. WASHINGTON. BALTIMORE, 
ATLANTA. NORFOLK. FLORENCE. ALA. 




As the Gods Decree 


CHAPTER I 

‘The honeyed words of Regus ring true, 
Decius !” 

The speaker was a man of about forty years of 
age, tall and wiry, but of shapely contour. His 
aesthetic cast of countenance was intensified by con- 
trast with the armour and accoutrements that de- 
noted his rank. He was the military tribune, Caius 
Artus, and in his bronzed arms carried his helmet, 
for the day was warm. His hair was slightly 
tinged with gray about the temples and a forelock 
of white nestled among the raven locks that had 
thus far escaped the ravages of time. His eyes 
were cold and piercing, but his most attractive fea- 
ture was a firm mouth, touched at the comer by 
a scar that lent an expression of cynicism which 
women called fascinating. One could read on that 
clean-shaven face, strength of character, experience 
in life and sufifering. 

His companion, a man of strong and massive 
frame, who had already passed the half century 
mark of time, was Marcus Decius, a senator. He 
was of that noble and commanding mien which in- 
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dicated his former vocation in life, ere the purple- 
bordered senatorian toga had taken the place of 
the scarlet-coloured cloak of the general. In a 
voice strong and deep, he replied to the words of 
the tribune. 

‘'Aye, we should be grateful for this great priv- 
ilege that rewards our struggles and strife, — this 
view of Rome’s greatness! Well does the world 
cry, ‘Ave, Roma!’ Yet,” he added in subdued 
tones, “I tell thee, Artus, these men, — aye, even 
such as young Regus, or the popular Tibullus who 
prefers the caresses of a wanton to the victories 
of war, — bah ! I care little for their honeyed words. 
The strength of Rome lies not in arms weakened 
by debauchery. Augustus does well, indeed, to 
discourage it, — and by Pollux! so I have told him.” 

“Thou art right, Decius,” said Artus, “and 
therefore — albeit I am no Stoic! — in quietude I 
enjoy my furlough in Rome. It rests with thee 
whether I return to Hispania to rejoin the legions 
of able Antistius against the stubborn Cantabrians, 
or else remain here to plague thee.” 

“Artus,” replied the senator, “I but await thy 
final decision. Does this life in Rome please thee 
more than the duties of active service to which 
thou hast been accustomed these many years? Say 
the word, for I have influence that can gain for thee 
a place of honour here, — aye, mayhap greater than 
thou canst suspect! Other things, however, like- 
wise require thy immediate decision.” 

“Now, Decius, thou dost wrong me. There is 
no place this side of the Styx in which I would 
rather spend the hours of my restless life than in 
Rome — and with thee. I’ve had enough of war. 


tfte <goD0 Decree 7 

and thou hast been to me patron, friend — and — ■ 
brother.” 

They stopped walking and the eyes of Decius 
now sparkled with a heretofore hidden warmth, 
for the voice of the speaker had changed to tones 
of gentleness. 

“In the name of Jupiter!” said the senator, “I 
welcome thy words. Augustus would deny me 
nothing I deem necessary for the welfare of the 
republic.” He smiled and his eyes twinkled as he 
looked at his companion. “And,” he continued, 
“my friend, the Consul Statilius Taurus, knows 
that Octavianus would give to me even the selection 
of a praetor, — for thou knowest the word of Au- 
gustus is law, notwithstanding the fact that the 
comitia resumes the election of magistrates. The 
office is one of power and can lead to great things. 
I have thee in mind as a candidate for a praetor- 
ship. What sayest thou?” 

“What, — Decius, me? Surely thou art jesting!” 

“Adrastaea bear me witness! I am in earnest. 
Hast thou not bled freely for Rome? Indeed, 
were we not with Taurus in the subjugation of 
Sicily aside from our service with the Caesar? 
Since thou hast returned I have also had in mind 
another matter. Thou shouldst take unto thyself a 
wife, to enable thee to share thy growing power 
more worthily. Joys of parenthood are not only 
for mothers. Old age is lonely. Likewise mar- 
riage is necessary if thou dost aim to attain higher 
rank. Thou knowest the ideas of the princeps on 
these matters.” 

“Yet,’' said Artus, as he smiled, “thou dost re- 
main a widower!” 


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“With me, ’tis different,” replied Decius. “I 
have my daughter and have relinquished the tent 
for the home, because each night and morn she 
awaits me there.” 

“Yet as regards marriage, Decius, truly thou 
dost freeze me! Misjudge me not, for well I know 
Rome gives birth to maidens for the gods, — aye, 
maidens that could shame the beautiful and too- 
loving Helen of Troy! But speak of other things. 
Keep thy praetorship. Next month I sleep in His- 
pania.” 

Decius grasped the wrist of Artus in a firm hold 
and said, “My Artus, think not that I am blind 
to thy heart, nor that I forget thy fidelity to Eury- 
cele. Yet I know that thou wilt tire of thy Greek 
concubine. Once thou didst love ‘my lamb’ ! Know 
then that Decia obeys her father!” 

“Honour me less, Decius, and tempt me not with 
such sweet bait.” 

“Tempt thee, Artus? I more than tempt. I 
give ! My daughter loves thee, — aye, for those very 
things in thee that thou dost deplore. Such is 
woman. Her reason dies when she loves. Man, 
I say thou art to her a very god, nor too fat, nor 
too lean, nor too old, nor too young, — aye, she 
confessed it all!” 

“What? Love me — as a lover, Decius?” 

“My words are clear. Of course she knows 
little of Rome. I have kept her from the city, for, 
by Jupiter! I have long since vowed I would not 
sacrifice her, — even to Rome. She is for thee, I 
say and — and knows naught of Eurycele or thy 
past, — naught, indeed, save that thou didst love her 
when she was a child; nor has she forgotten that 


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thou didst take her on thy knee when she was but 
little higher than thy greave.” 

Artus turned his head aside, but Decius con- 
tinued : 

“Have I ever told thee that one day I came 
upon her, — aye, ’tis now more than ten years past. 
She was perched upon a cathedra, which she had 
dragged with efforts akin to those of the messenger 
of Marathon, until it stood abreast of my statue of 
great Julius. Her tiny hands encased a stylus and 
she scratched the face striving to make a mark 
upon it. ‘Ho, ho !’ I shouted, ‘art thou becoming 
sculptor?’ ‘No, father,’ she replied, ‘yet ’tis an 
ill statue, because the face is not like Artus!’ Think 
upon it, Artus, my marble from the scalpel of none 
other than Pasiteles! Now, by the gods! so did 
she rule me then, — aye, even as now I am her slave ! 
— what needs but that I must do the work for her, 
kissing her between times ! Her love for thee, thou 
seest, has grown through the years and was not 
placed upon her soul as seal on wax.” 

“O, Angerona, ease her pain! What, Decius, 
dost thou think thy lamb will say when she knows 
all, — for surely we must needs tell her, ere that day 
she would suddenly learn, — and break her innocent 
heart. Dost thou forget that she is, indeed, unlike 
Eurycele? Nor can we judge the daughter by the 
mother, for, alas! Decia does not resemble thy 
dear departed wife, Aurelia, who knew Rome, — 
and men’s frailties. Wouldst thou have thy ‘lamb’ 
discover the truth of my O, Decius, spare us !” 

“Truth of thy what?” asked the senator, as he 
stopped abruptly. 

“Hear me, Decius, and judge. There is a writ- 


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ten chapter in the scroll of my life of which thou 
knowest naught. When I was a youth, an old man 
picked me from the gutters, where I lay bleeding 
one day after an encounter with a number of young 
ruffians, — like me — who were trying to rob me 
of a little trinket. He took me to his humble 
home, near the Tiber, and befriended me. He had 
a young and pretty daughter. Such things thou 
knowest happen not only in tales. How other- 
wise than that I should have loved her? Gentle, 
innocent and affectionate, and I, but a wild tem- 
pered youth! No man is born without faults. She 
gave herself to me. By Venus, goddess of Fer- 
tility! I vow ’tis not in a Roman’s nature to 
thrust aside the fruit. Sorrow follows pleasure. 
I was impressed in the legions — then off to the 
wars. Years glided by and engaged in foreign 
service, I thought less of it. However, one day, 
after a battle in the Dalmatian campaign, a sorely 
wounded legionary sent for me. His face mirrored 
the death agony. ‘Didst thou live, when a youth — ■ 
with an aged man near the Tiber — and the Forum 
Boarium?’ he asked. When I replied in the affirma- 
tive, he continued, ‘Didst thou there claim — the 
name of Calchus?’ My startled countenance was 
my reply ; then he gasped, ‘Thou — hast — a — son, — 
seducer!’ He expired, with an expression of hatred 
on his agonized countenance. I could learn naught 
of his identity save that he had come from Rome. 
However, Decius, men speak truth in the shadow 
of death. The gentle maiden had become a mother, 
— the mother of my child. This son, if he is alive, 
is now grown to manhood. Even yonder youth 


30 tfte <0000 Decree 


11 


may be he! So do I pass through life. Some day 
I may hear one say, ‘Thou art my sire and didst 
ravish the maiden who bore me !’ Some day I may 
meet her, — if she be not with the shades! Thou 
wilt say, Decius, that such is life, — aye, thou, who 
art a man, wilt say it, — but what will Decia say? 
So hover the clouds and my soul has no protection 
’gainst such elements. And yet, Decius, ’tis not 
only this that keeps me from stealing ‘thy lamb.’ 
Early, not late remedies, are the most effective. I 
must deny myself.” 

“Deny thyself?” said the senator. ‘‘Nay, all 
this is in mortal life. These things can be kept 
from her knowledge forever. I have chosen thee 
of all men for the husband of my daughter. To 
thee only can I entrust her happiness. Yet, truly, I 
gave but little thought to the fact that some day she 
must needs leave her innocence for — Rome! Come 
to me on the morrow at my villa. Meanwhile I 
will coax my dull mind upon this problem.” 

The sun was now setting west of the Palatine. 
They parted with a clasp of the wrist, but did not 
observe the figure of a man slink silently away in 
the shadows of the fast disappearing radiance, — a 
man, whose body was covered with a coarse and 
torn woolen tunic. Yet, when from the distance, he 
saw the senator and the military tribune go their 
several ways, he folded his arms and whispered 
half aloud: 

“By Pollux! could I but have heard more of it! 
Calchus! Near the Forum Boarium and the Tiber! 
The traducer of a maiden ere he was impressed!” 

He then walked slowly in the direction of the 
Palatine, 


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It was in the 728th year of Rome, and during 
the consulship of Octavianus and Statilius Taurus, 
the year succeeding that in which the former had 
been honoured with the title of Augustus by de- 
cree of the senate. Gains Julius Caesar Octavianus 
(a name the great ruler had assumed at the time 
of the assassination of his grand-uncle, Julius 
Caesar) had already begun the mighty task of 
creating a Rome that was to be the most stately 
and magnificent city of the world. Many import- 
ant additions were being made to the great struc- 
tures of the ‘‘nameless city,” which was adorned 
with imposing edifices. Even the Pantheon of 
Agrippa was in course of completion, and the great 
temples, such as that of Jupiter Capitolinus, which 
surmounted the Capitoline, and sacred and civil edi- 
fices, stood forth from a sky of Adrian blue. Poi^ 
ticoes, columns and statues embellished the forum 
Romanum. The great aqueducts, monuments of 
engineering ability stretching across the level Cam- 
pania, seemed to carry with them into the walled 
city unseen powers which made Rome the mistress 
of the world. Indeed, the Umbilicus urhis Romae, 
or ideal center of the city and empire, in the forum 
Romanum, was virtually supposed to mark the cen- 
ter of the world; distances to all points, even the 
remote provinces, were reckoned from the gates 
of the city, and mile-posts on the Via Appia and 
other great roadways, told the mileage from Rome. 
The dominions of the Empire at this period 
stretched practically from the Atlantic to the Eu- 
phrates, were hemmed in on the north by the for- 
ests of Germany and the bleak steppes of Scythia, 
on the south by the sands of African deserts and 


30 tbe <2>o00 Decree 


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the dreary wastes of Arabia. In the city of Rome 
mingled a populace that included types of all the 
peoples of the hundred millions over whom her 
eagles held sway. Asiatics and Africans, mingled 
in the fora and along the thoroughfares. Rough 
and hairy barbarians rubbed elbows with graceful 
Greeks, whose clear complexions made strong con- 
trasts in the crowd. Gaudily attired Egyptians 
and dark-robed Jews, fierce Numidians and refined 
voluptuaries of the East, exchanged glances. Pa- 
tricians, knights, freedmen, slaves ! The highest 
pinnacles of the worldly power and possession, the 
most abject conditions of poverty and serfdom, 
were all represented in this seething, surging, rest- 
less humanity. 


CHAPTER II 


The home of Artus was situated in the salubrious 
Janiculum, the trans-Tiberim region of Rome. On 
the succession of terraces stood many handsome 
residences. Close by the pons Sublicius crossed the 
southward flowing Tiber, and on the opposite 
shore, touched near the Forum Boarium. Although 
the house of the tribune was of less magnitude 
than those of many of his neighbors, it was of con- 
siderable artistic beauty and perfect in detail. No 
busts of a long line of ancestors, however, adorned 
its atrium. Indeed, the very name of Artus 
(^^joints”) had been jocularly given to him, as his 
gens, by rough companions in the cohort when he 
had been impressed, the legionaries having noticed 
the large joints of the young recruit. This physi- 
cal characteristic was the most prominent to which 
he could at that time lay claim. Under the name 
of Caius Artus only, was he known. A source of 
gratification to its owner was, that his many years 
of service had enabled him to eventually possess a 
permanent domicile in Rome, where he could rest 
during the periods of his furloughs from active 
service. He had fought at Philippi under Octav- 
ianus and Anthony against Brutus and Cassius, 
when he was twenty-one years of age, and it was 
during this campaign that his distinguished bravery 
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15 


had won the notice of Decius, to whom he at- 
tached his career. 

Decius sided with the young Octavian during the 
eleven years’ struggles of the triumvirs for pos- 
session of the prize of supreme power, and was with 
Octavianus when the Roman army pursued Anthony 
to Egypt, where the latter committed suicide. 
Decius, the patrician, moved onward in life and 
Artus remained attached to him. 

A week following his conversation with the sen- 
ator in the Forum, found Artus one morning at 
sunrise seated in his peristyle, pondering over the 
combination of incidents and accidents that had 
brought him to his present discontented frame of 
mind. 

His thoughts wandered backward to that early 
period in his life when he was the beloved child 
of noble and wealthy parents. Of this, however, 
he retained but slight recollection. Quickly moving 
political events, and malicious lies and treachery, 
had robbed his father of rank and wealth, — and 
eventually of life itself. His father had been de- 
nounced as a traitor to Rome! Artus did not even 
dare to breathe the name, though years had passed. 
The memory of the Caesar was keen! The tribune 
considered it a cruel trick of fate that he pos- 
sessed but a single vague clue to the identity of 
those who had been responsible for the crime. 
Twenty years of service to Rome ! He had gained 
a comfortable competence, was now of the Eques- 
trian order, and held the rank of military tribune. 
The future held promise of even greater rewards. 

Eurycele arrived upon the scene as he was fight- 
ing this silent battle. She approached him quietly 


16 as tfte (goD0 Decree 

from the rear, glorious in all the radiance of her 
Grecian beauty, the smile of Aphrodite playing 
about her beautifully formed mouth. He felt her 
arms about his neck and the soft touch of her lips 
upon his hair. The rays of the rising sun stole 
gently through the polished marble columns of the 
peristylium. He arose and lifting her face to his, 
looked long and piercingly into her eyes. He was 
startled to discover in their depths a wealth of love 
for him which he had never before believed could 
have existed in this ‘‘child of fate.” However, he 
bade her summon his favourite antiamhulo^ or 
waymaker, Hercules by name, a Gallic slave of 
gigantic build, with whom it was his custom to 
wrestle each morn. It was while he was thus en- 
gaged that Decius entered and heard Artus cry: 
“Loosen thy hold, Hercules ! Am I so ill a master 
that thou wouldst break my back?” 

The slave dropped to one knee before him. 

“My life is thine, lord!” he said. 

“Words cost thee naught, slave,” interrupted 
Decius at this moment. 

“Decius I” cried Artus. “In the name of Jupiter, 
welcome, — yet wrong not good Hercules. I’ll sum- 
mon Eurycele, who will converse with thee whil’st 
I repair this damage to my temperature.” 

“Hasten, Artus,” said the senator, “for I would 
have thee visit Damassus with me. He is training 
a novice in his ‘family’, — a young retiarius who 
fights on the morrow. Damassus speaks highly of 
the youth, who is a Roman, and has promise of my 
patronage should he prove a victor. I desire to 
have thee tell me of my chances on the outcome.” 


30 tfee <SoD0 Decree 


17 


“Hast thou wagered much on the youth, Decius?” 
“I have a better reason for desiring victory,” re- 
plied the senator. Eurycele entered and Artus has- 
tened to his bath. 


CHAPTER III 


The wine-shop of Largus, the ex-gladiator, was 
located near the amphitheatre of Statilius Taurus, 
in the Campus Martius. It had become a favorite 
resort of the free gladiators, and on this morning 
preceding the day of the games, contained a goodly 
crowd of combatants and their backers. 

Among the wine maids who served the mixed 
crowds was one called Mecinia. Her beauty was 
startling, her clear olive complexion being illumined 
by large black eyes, for the sake of whose lustre, 
many a gladiator had pursued elusive victory and 
its rewards with which to bedeck her. For a view 
of her pearly teeth behind a smile, spectaii or vic- 
torious gladiators had at times thrown their coins 
in a shower over her in a moment of intoxication 
from the wine, or the influence of her fascination! 
Though it cannot be said that she never had a 
lover, it was known among the patrons, that her 
favours were few and far between. In the cruelty 
of her nature, there was no hope for the defeated, 
no tears for the dead. A product of the slums of 
Antioch, knowing neither kith nor kin, she found 
herself at the age of realization, in the ilkkept abode 
of a beggar, an old hag who had used her as a bait 
for charity. Later she worked in the tahernae, and 
eventually drifted to Rome. 

A massive Gaul was leaning against the wall. He 

18 


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19 


was bragging of his possession of the iudus, the 
token of liberation, for he had in former times been 
a slave. He was now a rudiarius, engaged as a 
gladiator by various nobles. His earnings, through 
his hire, were considerable. He turned to Mecinia 
and said: 

“Queen of the ‘family,’ say thou wilt share my 
spoils, for by the God Taraan! I vow I will win 
with thy favor as the prize !” 

“Bah, Brute!” (for thus they termed him, ow- 
ing to his great size, hairy chest, and guttural 
voice). “It is one thing to boast, another to fight; 
save thy sesterces for bandages!” was her taunt- 
ing reply. 

Standing in a distant part of the room was a 
young gladiator. He was a retiarius, or netsman, 
and unquestionably a novice, for he did not wear 
the tessera gladiatoria, which would have signified 
that the owner had appeared before an audience. 
His wiry frame possessed much nervous tension, 
which, when coupled with strong sinews, often con- 
quered physical strength in the arena. He gazed 
admiringly at Mecinia, who, apparently, was una- 
ware of his existence. His face seemed to lack 
the harsh expression which was to be observed on 
the countenances of the majority of occupants of 
the tavern. “Brute” once said of him: “He’s 
still new at the business, — nor will he live to be 
old at it!” 

Mecinia seemed to hold the glances of the youth 
as in a spell, but he approached her with head erect 
and dignified carriage. 

“Say, beautiful Mecinia, doth the victor on the 
morrow gain thy favour?” 


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“O, ’tis thee, Glaccus, thou serious one ! Where- 
fore thy interest? Truly with thy soft glances thou 
canst not hope to gain the favour of Fortune?” 

The crowd, including the weather-beaten gladia- 
tors, had gradually drifted toward these two. 

“Hear this novice among ye!” she said, as she 
laughed, “craving for my favour should he win ! — 
Should he win !” 

Her auditors joined in her mirth. Largus, the 
host, suddenly shouted: 

“Hush! hush!” as the cry of a.waymaker was 
heard at the entrance; “here come nobles!” 

“What have we here ?” said Decius, in command- 
ing tones, as he alighted from the litter, followed 
by Artus. “A nest of laughing wolves ! Save thy 
breaths for the sand! Glaccus, strip, that the tri- 
bune may see thy thews and sinews.” 

The youth obeyed and systematically Artus felt 
and twisted the various sinews and muscles of the 
novice, testing their strength as it were, and said : 

“A model netsman, by Hercules!” 

Decius dismissed the litter and, accompanied by 
the tribune, walked in the direction of the Forum. 
The former discussed with much enthusiasm, the 
abilities of the various gladiators entered for the 
combats on the morrow. This fact was somewhat 
of a surprise to Artus, for never before had he seen 
the senator take such keen interest in these spec- 
tacles. He had once heard Decius remark that 
“he had seen enough of blood in the wars.” 

“What means this sudden enthusiasm, Decius?” 
he inquired. 

“Fll tell thee in confidence, Artus ; I have a dan- 
gerous mission for a man who possesses strength, 


30 tfte ©000 Decree 


21 


endurance, — aye, and recklessness — and one who 
needs reward. Where better can I find such an one 
than amongst the victorious novices? Ha! but the 
nature of this mission I must keep secret, even from 
thee, and I fear I must deepen the mystery by 
adding that it perchance concerns thee! Curb thy 
impatience until the aftermath and join me on the 
morrow at the games.” 

^‘Thou hast not aroused my curiosity, and all this 
trouble is most unnecessary,” said Artus. 

In the meanwhile, Glaccus tarried at the tavern. 

“Dost thou expect to win, proud man?” laughed 
Mecinia, derisively, as Glaccus lingered, for many 
of the others had already left. He made no reply, 
but walked slowly to the door. Once he glanced 
backward, but did not stop. He had loved her since 
the first moment he had seen her, on a certain day 
many, many months gone by. 

As the youth walked to the gladiator’s barrack 
opposite, the glances of Mecinia followed him. Her 
surroundings had created in her mind disbelief in 
that mysterious thing they called love. She had 
never experienced it, had indeed seen nought but 
the worst of its substitutes. Once only she thought 
that Cupid had shot an arrow true. That was 
when she first heard Glaccus speak to her in a voice 
tinged with a sadness that ill became his stern hab- 
iliment. She laughed at herself, however, for her 
weakness, and the arrow did not penetrate! ^ Her 
heart was protected by the armour of experience. 
She love! — she who had so often seen men drunk 
with wine and blood! 

“I fear I was harsh with him, — yet he carries 
his head too high; I care not for such wooing. 


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They all beg, but he Bah! the morrow sees 

his end, for ‘Brute’ will kill him, even because they 
both say they love me, and Glaccus is more fair 
than he. Did Venus frown upon me and give me 
wrinkles, they would jeer at me! Ecastor! if 
‘Brute’ wins. I’ll throw his reward back into his 
vile face. But this will never do, — though I do 
wish I had given the youth some kind word ere 
he went to death, — Death!” 

At the word she seemed to feel something touch 
her heart, then grasp it as she thought of his black 
hair reddened with blood, of his eyes again soft- 
ened, but this time by death. She resolved to visit 
Glaccus at the barrack on the morrow before the 
games commenced. 


CHAPTER IV 


In the morning* Mecinia discovered that they 
would not admit her to the barracks. She must 
needs content herself with one of the seats in the 
upper gallery, which was the only part of the 
amphitheatre from which women were permitted to 
witness the games. She must join the pushing and 
crowding hordes that would pour through the 
vomit oria! 

The hawkers hushed their cries, as they ceased 
plying their trade of selling refreshments. The 
shrill tones of the flutes and pipes were soon stilled 
and the games commenced. She sat impatiently 
through the venatio, combats between wild beasts, 
and the succeeding events of the hestiarii, who 
pitted their skill against the strength and ferocity 
of savage animals. She sat there, silent and un- 
interested, until the trumpets pealed and the re- 
sounding brazen cymbals clashed the signals for the 
commencement of the gladitorial combats. Out 
marched the contestants slowly and two by two. 
After defiling at the bisellium, and saluting with the 
“Morituri te salutant!” they paired off. Their 
weapons were examined. The editor waved his red 
handkerchief. Blasts from the tuba were again 
heard. The signals for positions! Mecinia could 
have shrieked as she saw Glaccus, naked, save for 
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24 a0 tbt (goQg Decree 

a short white tunic reaching to the knee, matched 
against his first adversary, an able-bodied Liburn- 
ian captive, armed as a myrmillo, yet clumsy as an 
elephant. The rabble hissed when the Liburnian 
fell, entangled in the meshes of the net which the 
youth had deftly thrown over him. The trident 
had lightly touched his groins and he gave vent to 
a howl. The people shouted : 

‘‘Euge!” ^‘Bene!” ‘‘Hoc habet “Hochabet!” 
and laughed, but turned their thumbs up. This 
hilarity, therefore, did not save the life of the 
secutor for Glaccus, in accordance with the rules 
of the games, drew forth a short knife from his 
waistband and slew him. The body of the victim 
was then dragged out through the Libitinensis, the 
“Gate of Death.’’ The populace were disgusted at 
the victim’s fear of death. 

The arena was now sprinkled with fresh sand 
to hide the dark spots formed by the blood of the 
vanquished. After a short interval, Glaccus was 
pitted against the victor of another combat. Me- 
cinia swayed in her seat as she watched them, for 
the opponent of Glaccus in this event was of the 
veterans, a Thracian, victor of many combats, who 
was hailed by the populace with shouts of welcome. 
He was one of the threces, or buckler and cutlass 
men ; and then the wine-maid realized that she loved 
Glaccus, and she arose to her feet and screamed! 
Glaccus looked toward the upper tier, whence her 
cry had come. He set his jaws firmly together 
and his blood leaped like fire in the excitement of 
action. He thought of Mecinia and hatred was 
born for his opponent, — for life itself. He sprang 
forward with an impetuosity which took his oppo- 


3si tfte (©000 Decree 


25 


nent almost unawares. His net fell true and again 
spelt death amid the plaudits of the blood-thirsty 
multitudes and their shouts of, “Peractum est!” 

Again the arena was sprinkled with sand. Next 
came the victors of the second trials! Mecinia 
recognized in the youth’s new adversary, him they 
called “Brute!” 

Her voice failed as she tried to call out to Glac- 
cus. “Brute,” whom she hated and feared! Two 
women seated next to Mecinia held her to prevent 
her from falling over the balcony in the excite- 
ment. They thought she was drunk, — and so she 
was, — with the fear and terror of it all! She 
looked again at the arena and saw what appeared 
to her bereft mind to be a giant before a pigmy, 
but though much larger than Glaccus, “Brute” did 
not possess that nerve force, grace and ease of ac- 
tion, swiftness of limb, or that hatred of life itself, 
which gives such courage in the face of death. The 
trumpets again pealed fo<*th their harsh blasts. It 
was the signal to take positions! “Brute” crouched 
forward, his heel dug deep into the sand, his eyes 
peering through the opening of his helmet, his body 
protected by his clypeus, or large round shield, his 
short sword pointed toward his adversary. Glac- 
cus, however, now in the intensity of action, ap- 
peared to the populace as though he were a bundle 
of springs, as he moved about in a semi-circle, care- 
fully preserving the folds of his net, which was 
weighted with small lead balls and hung over his 
left shoulder. He became the aggressor and pre- 
pared to cast his net at the first opportunity. Sud- 
denly he let it fly swiftly at his opponent, who, 
however, dodged it successfully. Nought was left 


26 


as tbt 00 Ds Decree 


for Glaccus now but to run swiftly from “Brute,” 
dragging his net across the sand and increasing the 
distance between himself and the secutor. This he 
was enabled to do, as he was unencumbered with 
weighty armor such as that worn by his opponent. 
The audience arose in the excitement of the action. 
Even the patricians forgot their assumed indif- 
ference for the moment. Glaccus, by this time, 
however, had recovered his net to position, and 
awaited the onslaught of the now maddened 
“Brute.” The Gaul stopped suddenly. These tac- 
tics were not new to him, for the netsman calmly 
awaited the onslaught. Yet, perhaps his adversary 
had some new trick! What was it? Again Glac- 
cus cast the net and this time it struck “Brute,” 
but became entangled on the shield of the latter, 
who, though he pulled and tugged it, could not 
loosen the hold. Ere long Glaccus was running 
with “Brute” in full pursuit. It was, however, a 
difficult position for both of them. If Glaccus 
should be overtaken, or if he relinquished his hold 
on the net, he would practically have no defence. 
On the other hand, if the secutor let fall the buckler 
with which the net had become entangled, he would 
virtually be at the mercy of the long trident of his 
opponent. The shield of “Brute” was now useless 
for any purpose whatsoever, entangled as it was in 
the meshes of the net of the retiarius, who was 
pulling it with might and main and menacing the 
secutor with his trident. They both halted at as 
far a distance from each other as this peculiar 
chain permitted, each with his weapon held aloft. 
“Brute” now adopted new tactics. He began, with 
the strength of his left arm, to pull the net toward 


30 tH ©oD0 Decree 


27 


him. Thus he succeeded in bringing Glaccus nearer 
to him each moment. He thought the retiariiis 
would fight against this operation, but, on the con- 
trary, Glaccus suddenly poised his trident in the 
air and aimed for a fatal thrust. The latter’s ad- 
versary realized that this plan of campaign would 
have to be changed! There was naught else for 
“Brute” to do than to loosen his hold upon the 
shield with its attached net, which he did. The 
net, however, was equally useless to Glaccus, be- 
cause it was encumbered with a heavy shield. It 
was many a day since the people of Rome had seen 
so strange an outcome to this character of combat, 
for now the combatants had lost part of their 
weapons! Shouts of “Euge!” and “Bene!” again 
arose on the air. The combatants now stood fac- 
ing each other, studying the situation. Glaccus was 
armed only with his three-pronged trident. “Brute” 
was at an equal disadvantage, without a shield to 
protect him from the reach of his opponent’s 
dreaded weapon. The spectators were shouting 
lustily. A smile now appeared on the face of Glac- 
cus that sorely puzzled “Brute.” The former be- 
gan new tactics and made a flying start as if to 
thrust his trident at his opponent. Such, however, 
was not his purpose, for he suddenly changed his 
course and ran around him in a circle, coming 
closer and closer each moment. “Brute” was, 
therefore, compelled to keep turning around and 
around upon the same spot, a very uncomfortable 
operation. Indeed, he suffered so from the heat and 
exertion that he was forced to discard his heJmet. 
At this action Glaccus laughed tauntingly, and 
shouted : 


28 


30 tbe <2^000 Decree 


“Why not throw away thy sword!” The odds 
were now about equal. Should Glaccus drive a false 
thrust, the trident would glance off or perchance be 
pushed aside by his opponent, and he would be 
conquered; on the other hand, should “Brute” at- 
tempt to force the issue with Glaccus he would come 
within range of the dread trident. He realized, 
however, that unless Glaccus thrust him in a vital 
part, he would, perhaps, but suffer an injury from 
which he could recover, and the people would un- 
doubtedly spare him as he had been popular in the 
past. Therefore, the advantage, should he decide 
to determine the outcome at once, was on his side. 
Glaccus, however, appeared to be at ease; in fact, 
notwithstanding the strenuous efforts he had already 
put forth, he was in good physical condition. His 
maneuvres had considerably tired the heavily armed 
Gaul. The latter realized that some desperate ac- 
tion was now imperative and, therefore, with his 
left arm poised before his head to thrust aside the 
trident, and his right hand firmly clasping his 
sword, made a dash for Glaccus, who dodged him, 
and with a backward thrust as the secutor passed, 
sent the trident into his back^ but only slightly 
wounded him. The people shouted, “Hoc habet! 
Hoc habet I” as “Brute” gave vent to a howl of fury 
and became madder each moment as he raced wildly 
around the arena after the fleeing Glaccus, who 
scoured lightly over the sand, always keeping out 
of reach of the stroke of that terrible right arm, 
awaiting an opportunity for a thrust with his tri- 
dent. With the passing of the moments, and amidst 
the hush of excitement of the assembled multi- 
tude, “Brute’’ became tired and could no longer 


3s ttt <$oas Decree 


29 


pursue with speed. Loss of blood had somewhat 
weakened him, and he stopped to recover his wind. 
This was the opportunity awaited by Glaccus, who 
realized that now, while his adversary was fatigued, 
was the moment at which to strike. The crowd 
arose as one man and a great roar traveled through 
the amphitheatre. Quickly gathering his strength, 
he made a rush at '‘Brute,” and the trident pene- 
trated the stomach of the latter. Again the popu- 
lace shouted, “Euge!” “Hoc habet! Hoc habet!” 

However, as Glaccus attempted to recover him- 
self from the momentum of his rush, he came 
within too close range of his adversary’s weapon, 
and received a downward slash at the rear of the 
shoulder. He had, however, dug his trident into 
a vital part of “Brute,” who sank to the earth. 
Glaccus, however, felt the ground slipping from 
under him. The wound he had received drew much 
blood, the loss of which, coupled with the exer- 
tions he had put forth, was more than mortal man 
could endure, and he sank to the sand at the mo- 
ment that a woman’s shriek pierced the silence of 
excitement, just before the people gave one mighty 
roar, and the rabble crowded forward from their 
seats, even attempting to gain entrance to the arena 
to discover which, if either, of the combatants, was 
alive to claim the victory. It required the entire 
force of designatores and locarii to preserve order 
and prevent the rabble from invading the first 
maenianum appropriated to the Equestrian Order, 
and the broad praecinctio, occupied by senators, 
magistrates and other persons of distinction. The 
physician, accompanied by his attendants, quickly 
sped to where the two men lay upon their weapons. 


30 


ag tht <g»oDg Decree 

After an examination, he kicked the body of 
“Brute” to signify that it was that of a corpse, at 
which some of the rabble now threw half-sucked 
figs. It was then dragged by hooks through the 
gates. The crowd cheered and watched his exam- 
ination of Glaccus^ who was rolled over until he lay 
face downward. Quickly the physician tore the 
short tunic from the loins of the retiarius, and at- 
tempted to stay the flow of blood. At the sight of 
this action the people realized that Glaccus was 
alive, and a mighty cheer shook the air! He was 
carried through the gates to the spoliarium. The 
shriek that had broken the silence of that moment 
was from Mecinia, for, as she saw the blood flow- 
ing freely from the shoulder of Glaccus, 
she ran, screaming, from the vomitoria^ for 
the purpose of gaining admittance to the 
arena. One of the patrons of the wine- 
shop, who chanced to see her, forcibly led 
her away. However, she learned that Glaccus 
was still alive. She then hastened to the barrack, 
to which they had carried Glaccus by the orders 
of Damassus. There she was admitted, after brib- 
ing an attendant, and forced her way through the 
crowd that surrounded the wooden couch upon 
which Glaccus was lying. She saw a patrician, 
who was none other than Decius, watching with 
keenest interest the efforts of the physician to hold 
together the cleft muscle. Behind him stood Artus, 
betraying but slight interest. When, for the first 
time, Glaccus opened his eyes, he felt the burning 
tears of Mecinia falling upon his face. 


CHAPTER V 


When Artus returned to his home in the Janicu- 
lum, he found Eurycele surrounded by her hand- 
maidens, who were busily engaged on the finishing 
touches of her elaborate toilet. He had been invited 
for a late coena by Lucius, a young philosopher 
whose writings had already made their appearance 
in the bookshops, and who lived with his mother in 
a handsome residence on the Palatine. 

“By Hercules!” said Artus to Eurycele, “thou 
didst, indeed, miss a joy! Ne’er before has there 
occurred in the arena so exciting an event as the 
combat between one called Glaccus, who was a 
novice, and “Brute,” a gigantic Gaul. The former, 
thou shouldst know, is a protege of Decius.” 

He proceeded to describe the combat. 

Eurycele held her breath at his tale and as the 
climax was reached, said excitedly: 

“Aye, my lord, aye!” 

“Patience, Eurycele, patience. What matters it 
to thee who fell to feed the worms? Thou hast 
heard sufficient.” 

“Nay, tease me not! Say who won?” 

“My love,” said Artus, calmly, “it was a pretty 
sight. Thou shouldst have heard the people shout 
when the massive Gaul and the wiry youth sprang 
at each other at the final thrust.” 

31 


32 


as tbt ©otjs Dectee 


He completed the story. 

’Twas splendidly done ! How brave a youth ! 
Wilt thou have him here that I may gaze upon the 
new hero?” she asked. 

“To have him prove a successful rival to poor 
Artus? I did long fear that thou wert becoming 
tired of my scars.” 

“O, truly thou art the worst tease and cruelest 
man, — albeit the handsomest, — that e’er plagued a 
woman, and I could devour thee this instant.” 

“And a tough morsel thou wouldst find for thy 
dainty stomach; I have much gristle that would 
break thy teeth, and then thou wouldst be a tooth- 
less Eurycele, much like thy faithful slave-damsel, 
Endice, who whistles as she speaks !” laughed 
Artus, “but learn that life must be combined with 
laughter and tears, — else would the gods have per- 
petual holiday. Come, soon we must start. If thy 
stomach is well, thou wilt have an excellent oppor- 
tunity to feast on delicate viands. The chief cook 
of Lucius is not without certain fame. I, however, 
find the greatest attraction to be the presence there 
of Regus. His words are honey!” 

It was before the tenth hour that they entered 
their litter. 

“And who is this Regus?” questioned Eurycele. 

“He is the inseparable companion of our host, 
and a young poet who can make the fount of tears 
o’erflow upon the moment. By Hercules! I would 
that he were a son of mine! though, alas! he lacks 
the muscular strength that life in the legions would 
have engendered. He is too perfect of face and 
form, and ’tis said, Eurycele, that half the women 


30 tfte ©OD0 Decree 


33 


of Rome are at variance with their husbands for 
his sake. Am I not courageous that I dare to bring 
thee in range of his charms?” 

“What in the name of great Zeus care I for this 
Regus, or his charms. Artus is my all !” she replied 
fondly. 

They finally reached the residence of Lucius, and 
after being admitted by the ostiarius, and ushered 
into the atrium by the attending vicarius, were 
greeted by Lucius, who said: 

“In the name of Jupiter, patron of all hospitality, 
a thousand welcomes ! Thou hast brought an- 
other star to add to the radiance of this night, — 
and shame the others by sweet comparison, — thy 
wond’rous fair Eurycele!” 

“Ecastor ! I am glad we are at last arrived,” she 
said. 

Decius, who arrived later, completed the eight 
guests invited to the pleasures of the grand triclm- 
ium, and who, together with the host, completed the 
number of the muses. The others were Regus, the 
poet, the young centurion Claudius, Donatus, a 
senator, Flavia, his new favorite, and Parthenia, the 
newest conquest of the poet. Between the various 
courses of the sumptuously served banquet, the 
conversation was sprightly. Much Falernian and 
Setinian wine was indulged in by the men, and not 
a little by the women. The chief topic of conversa- 
tion during the early part of the meal was naturally 
the ludis matutinum, or morning games, in the 
amphitheatre of Taurus, and particularly the com- 
bat between the young retiarius and the massive 
Gaul. Those who had witnessed it, vied with each 


S4 


tf)c <$otig I^ecte^ 

other in their efforts to extol the ability and cour- 
age of the youth in the face of such keen disad- 
vantage. 

“How fares the youth inquired Artus, who 
had left Decius at the barracks. 

“ ’Tis a deep cleft muscle at the shoulder, yet not 
cut through. A most sore wound !” replied Decius. 

Eventually, however, the conversation drifted to 
lighter matters and Regus was called upon to enter- 
tain the company with some of his verses. Artus 
suggested that he use as his subject the famed 
Tarpeian Rock in Rome, and Regus recited a num- 
ber of verses, concluding with the following: 

“Stern Tarpeia! knowest thou, thou once didst claim 
From me my one most prized possession? Aye, 
And in thy innocence didst break my heart. 
Because the mighty Mars did claim my time 
Whilst one fair maid did long for that caress, 

The sword had levied for grim battle’s deeds, 

She threw herself from thy majestic height 
To seek in thy cold arms the loved embrace 
That I, her lover, must to her deny. 

Because grim distance lay ’tween my lone tent 
And her pure couch, O! chaste as Vesta’s own! 

“O mighty Tarpeia! break thy silence; say 
That my lost love as thou encompassed her 
In embrace bleeding, and as she breathed her last. 
Did cry she loved me — and thy deathly kiss 
Did come unwelcome as foul Tarquin’s rape 
To virtuous Lucretia that famed night. 

O, speak but once, e’en though in mighty roar. 
And not hushed by the wail that rolls through time 


3s! tht ($oDs; 2)ectee 


35 


From out the grieving heart of her, my love, — 

O Tarpeia — and say that she awaits me there 
On Cytherean shores, consoled by nymphs, 

Beyond the reach of thy well meaned embrace 
That robbed me of my one and only love.” 

Much applause greeted this extemporaneous ef- 
fort of Regus. 

These verses served to direct the minds of the 
assembled guests to military matters and Decius re- 
lated that Artus, when a centurion, penetrated the 
enemy’s lines one night to take a gift to a maid a 
tribune loved. Donatus remarked that he doubted 
not that Artus gained the fruits for which his 
brother soldier, the tribune, paid. Decius laughed 
as he replied, much to the amusement of the others : 

“A fool ’twould be who did not steal that which 
was offered him!” 

Artus retaliated by relating a joke the tribunes 
played upon Decius one night during a campaign. 

Eventually conversation drifted to matters of 
government and the subject of conspiracy was dis- 
cussed. 

“The times of Julius were indeed troublous and 
I have courage of conviction to state that uninten- 
tional injustice was done to many,” remarked Artus. 
“The great Augustus realizes this, and makes 
amends wheresoe’er his judgment and the laws di- 
rect, yet there is one case of which I have heard, 
good friends, that by very comparison, makes many 
others insignificant. There is a man who owes his 
most entire wealth and power, — aye, and rank! — 
to a successful conspiracy that robbed a patrician — • 
one of the oldest of Rome! — of his all! — his wife. 


36 


30 tfie (®oD0 Decree 


his child, and all his relatives and — Charon hear 
me! — eventually, his own life. Upon such a villain, 
though I know not the man nor his victim, is heaped 
the wealth that other Romans won by hard cam- 
paign. Methinks the Rostra would gain a splendid 
chance to guide justice could the name of the vil- 
lain be discovered. Nemesis is, indeed, robbed of a 
victim I” 

“By all the divinities!” said Lucius; “methinks 
such a man would not hesitate to rob Charon!” 

“A patrician, sayest thou?” queried Donatus. 

“Aye, and one who, ’tis said, claims descent 
from the founders of Rome,” replied Artus. “Canst 
thou imagine a punishment to fit the crime of such 
a wretch?” 

“Most easily,” was the reply of Donatus. “Our 
poet, Regus, most fittingly described it. The vil- 
lain should be made to woo Tarpeia!” 

The guests soon dispersed. All agreed, how- 
ever, that a most enjoyable evening had been passed. 

“Didst thou note, O Decius, that the face of 
Donatus changed color as I told of the conspiracy?” 
said Artus, as they entered the litter of Decius, 
and, preceded and protected on both sides by slaves 
called pedisequii, were borne in the direction of 
the house of Artus. 

“Did he thus, Artus? To what conspiracy dost 
thou refer?” 

“Aye, Decius, he did, indeed,” said Artus, ignor- 
ing the question of the senator ; “and wert thou not 
so heavily laden with Falernian wine, thou wouldst 
have perceived an evil glitter in his eyes.” 

Decius brushed his hair from his forehead and 
mused : “O, get thee well in haste, Glaccus, — and 


90 tfte ®olJ0 Decree 


37 


set forth for me! Who knows but that the infor- 
mation I have gained be not the truth! Yet, by 
Hercules! the Tenth Legion claims all too many 
legends.” 


CHAPTER VI 


Glaccus lay in the barrack with high fever. The 
cleft muscle did not heal, although the physicians 
had done all in their power. Decius was much 
concerned, as no hope could be given for the re- 
covery of the youth. Ten days after the combat, 
one of them, Machaon by name, said to him : 

'‘Senator, the patient makes no progress.” 

Decius frowned and went direct to the home of 
Artus, to whom he said ; 

“Artus, I am disappointed and puzzled. The 
young gladiator shows no improvement ; high 
fever, no healing of the muscle. Advise me.” 

" 'Tis strange, Decius! The injury is not fatal!” 
replied Artus, thoughtfully. "But there may be 
some other ailment, — one of the mind, I mean. In 
his present weakened condition, he cares not if he 
lives or dies. In such cases Aesculapius himself 
would be powerless! Therefore, the remedy is to 
be found in giving him something for which to 
live and strive. ’Tis simple.” 

" ’Tis most complex, methinks!” answered the 
well meaning Decius. 

"Patience,” replied Artus; "tell him of his debt 
of gratitude to thee, — of some service thou dost 
need of him, — and other things. Lie a little, if thou 
must. ’Tis in a worthy cause and Jupiter will for- 
give thee!” 


38 


as tbe ©oDs Decree 


39 


The following day Decius spoke to the patient. 

‘‘Glaccus,” he said, ‘‘thy childish methods ill be- 
come thy proven manliness. Thou dost make no 
effort to mend. Go not to the gods owing thy 
fellowman a debt of gratitude, which is of far 
more importance than debt of gold. Dost thou 
follow me ?” 

“Aye, noble senator,” replied Glaccus, weakly; 
“yet I do not understand!” 

“Then use thy mind and hear me further. I 
gave thee opportunity to become the most talked-of 
man in Rome through thy successful combat. I 
paid the trainer. How dost thou repay me? By 
lying here sick as a woman. The protege of Decius 
will soon become a jest in Rome!” 

The fevered face of Glaccus now became even 
more flushed. 

“I have need of thee,” continued Decius. 

“Of me, sayest thou?” queried Glaccus. 

“Aye, ’tis therefore I became thy patron. So 
great a need have I of thy service that, shouldst 
thou prove successful in thy efforts in my behalf, I 
will make of thee a man of certain influence. I 
need a man who possesses strength, and courage. 
The sand of the arena proves that thou canst claim 
these. Surely thou art not one who will deny thy 
honest obligation to me! So far, however, as I am 
concerned, please thyself, but I tell thee this, Glac- 
cus, thou art less a man than I thought thee, if thou 
dost fail me.” 

“Forgive me,” said Glaccus. “Thou hast given 
me a new hold on life which has heretofore thrown 
the canis for me.” 

Decius looked kindly down upon him. 


40 ag tU (goQg Decree 

“By Hercules! I judged thee right!” 

As the senator left the sick man, the physician 
approached him. 

“Hear me, senator. Thy interest in the wounded 
gladiator prompts my words. He needs absolute 
quiet and uninterrupted care. These things are im- 
possible here. The work of the school, and other 
sounds of the barrack — all disturb the patient con- 
tinually. He needs quiet and — good air — of the 
country.” 

“Methinks thou art right. I’ll give thought to 
it. Get a nurse to tend him. Thou, too^ shouldst 
come; thou art pale.” 

“I thank thee. May Jupiter preserve thee!” re- 
plied Machaon, as he bowed low in gratitude to 
Decius, whose plain speech and honesty of purpose 
had often gained_, gratis, a host of friends that 
many would have paid round sums to purchase. 

When Decius arrived at his villa, he found Decia 
awaiting him on the white marble steps at the foot 
of the sloping plain, which was bounded at the 
lower end by acanthus. This entrance was enriched 
at both sides by statues, and the short road leading 
from the Via Appia passed it. Alighting from his 
rhedct>, Decius hastily bounded up the steps. 

He greeted her affectionately and they walked 
along the marbled walk to the portico. The latter 
rested on Corinthian pillars and before it extended 
the terrace planted with vari-colored flowers di- 
vided by box-trees. 

“How like thy dear mother thou art!^ — yet too 
pale,” he said, as he gazed at a painted fresco that 
adorned the red marble which covered the walls of 


30 tfte <goD0 Dcctcc ^ 

the atrium. It depicted a matron holding a cithara 
on her lap. 

While he was speaking the chariot of Artus was 
spied and the tribune, throwing the reins to the 
driver, came up the marbled path. 

‘‘Thou sweet lily!” said Artus, as he turned to 
Decia ; “thy old admirer must now content himself 
to kiss thy hand since thou hast bloomed, yet I tell 
thee thou didst many times, of thine own free will, 
press thy sweet lips on my rough cheek!” 

Decia blushed as he gazed at her in undisguised 
admiration of her maidenly beauty. 

“Truly, Artus,” said Decius, “the years pass! 
I am becoming old, yet will not admit it — and, too, 
thou art following me!” 

“Aye, Decius, yet I am older than thou, — though 
not perchance in years. Aye, age is but an accident, 
even as each and every other thing of life — and this 
is no new philosophy ! Nor have we a Hebe to give 
us the potion of youth!” 

After their baths, they repaired to the summer 
triclinium. This, the favorite dining room of 
Decius, exemplified the fact that he had engaged 
artists of mural decoration whose abilities reflected 
results which depicted the progress of the period. 
The variegated marbles of the walls were covered 
with gaudy-colored designs of leaves interspersed 
with flowers and festoons of ripe grain and fruit. 
Numerous oil cups of green and other colored 
Alexandrian glass diffused a softened glow. Later 
in the evening they were lighted. Overhead the 
stars shone softly and Luna’s silver crescent could 
be seen. 


42 


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“Tribune Artus,” queried Decia, “my father is 
much enwrapped in a gladiator. Indeed, I am be- 
coming jealous! Canst thou tell me aught of him?” 

Artus’s love for the daughter of Decius was far 
different to any he had ever before experienced. 
Her purity appealed to his nature, and he was sur- 
prised at the entire absence of sensual attraction. 
Since his conversation with Decius that afternoon in 
the Forum, neither had referred to the matter, al- 
though they saw each other almost daily. 

“What wouldst thou learn, Decia? He is a ple- 
bian, possesses youth, strength, courage and even 
comeliness, — and, too, he is, as thou knowest, thy 
father’s protege.” 

“Yet not so handsome as thou art. Tribune Ar- 
tus,” she said. 

“Stay, gentle flatterer,” laughed Artus; “thou 
canst not move me with thy sweet insinuations I” 

“Dearest father, hear! He will ne’er agree with 
me. Yet tell me. Tribune Artus, why is it my father 
denies me entrance to his beloved Rome? Am I 
not beloved? Yet here I am kept a captive, nor can 
I see the theatres, nor temples, nor games, nor fes- 
tivals, nor aught of the city. ’Tis not right, I say, 
and shouldst thou not embrace my cause I will 
frown upon thee.” 

“ ’Gainst such a threat, Decia, I am powerless. 
How, Decius, can I parry? Yet truly, Decia, I 
do believe that thou dost fare better here; there 
are many things within her walls that would not 
please thee, — aye, even though her eagles soar 
o’er all the earth!” 

“So I think,” said Decius. “My lamb hath her 
slaves, games, jewels, ponies, birds, fish, and all 


30 t\>t <©olJ 0 Decree 


43 


besides that we can both imagine and devise to 
give her pleasure.” 

“And yet I must content me,” continued Decia, 
unwilling to relinquish the combat, “but to hear of 
it. The beautiful city remains a dream in my mind, 
yet Myhrra says it is wonderful !” 

“Cease, cease,” said Decius, “for I have here a 
woven girdle. ’Twas made for thee of threads of 
gold!” 

“O, father, ’tis indeed beautiful! — yet would I 
rather have Rome close as thou art now, if only 
for a moment,” she said, with a sigh. 

“Ingrate!” said Decius, laughingly. “Well, I 
promise some day I will take thee to the city. Art 
now content?” 

“Dearest, dearest father, ’tis enough. Yet, will 
the day be soon?” 

“Aye, too soon, indeed, methinks; but go now, 
gird on thy golden belt, and display thy waist line 
to Artus.” 

“I would, Decius, that I were in Hispania!” said 
Artus. 

“Thou liest, Artus ; thou wouldst pillow thy chin 
upon the bosom of my lamb! A poor bungler I 
am to allow thee to prevent my fixing things thus!” 

When Decia returned she found them deeply en- 
grossed in thought. Artus was gazing straight 
ahead into vacancy, and Decius sat with folded 
arms, frowning deeply. 

“What ails ye, my fathers? Art angry at my 
long absence? The girdle did not fit and Myhrra 
had to fasten it anew!” 

Glaccus again became the subject of conversa- 
tion and Decius said: 


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^‘Where, Artus, can I send the youth? The 
physician said the country air and quietude are 
most necessary.’’ 

Decia said: 

“Why not the rustica, father? A sick man there 
could disturb no one.” 

So it was arranged that Glauccus would be 
brought to the villa and housed at the villa rus- 
tica, which, together with the fructuariwn, was di- 
vided from the villa proper by a small stream flow- 
ing through the grounds on its way to the Tiber. 

The first vigil had already passed when Decius 
said to Decia: 

“Go and woo Morpheus. Artus and I desire to 
discuss some matters that will not interest thee.” 

They sat far into the second vigil, discussing the 
past. A few of the colored oil-cups that were sus- 
pended overhead had become dark. 

“Indeed, Artus, I’ll ne’er forget the birth of thy 
proud scar. That was a day to try the Roman 
metal and, by Jupiter! thou didst save it with thy 
ready wit. Had Fortune frowned upon me, ere the 
sun sank that day, where would be this frame and 
its attribute, 'my lamb,’ who loves thee? Why, 
Artus, I would have been forever ruined, — ruined, 
but for thy saving courage!” 

“Have done, Decius, have done. Dost exagger- 
ate. Do not fail to realize what I in turn owe thee ? 
Art getting in thy dotage to overestimate the sol- 
dier’s duty? Cease, I beg of thee.” 

But Decius reached over and grasped the wrist of 
Artus. 


CHAPTER VII 


The physician who attended Glaccus at the bar- 
racks was conversing with an assistant. Orders 
had been received from Decius for the removal of 
the gladiator and the securing of an experienced 
person to assist in the nursing of the patient. 

‘‘Canst thou get an able damsel?’’ the physician 
asked his assistant, “who would, for generous pay, 
’tend Glaccus at the villa of Decius ? Why he does 
not employ one of his many slaves I know not!” 

“Nay,” replied his assistant, “I know no such 
woman, — yet — hast thou heard perchance of a poor 
woman known as 'the gentle widow’ who lives in 
the Subura? She enjoys a certain fame in that 
region, serving unfortunate neighbors in their sick- 
nesses. ’Tis said she has oft cured where phy- 
sicians themselves failed. ’Tis further said, — alas 
for thee ! — 'that she tends no men, but only children 
and women. Indeed ’tis said she hates men! Per- 
chance, however, the lure of gold may wean her 
for Mammon oft destroys hatred! Shouldst thou 
succeed, by Aesculapius! thou wouldst gain a prize 
in this new descendant of Jaso!” 

That night Machaon called at the humble home 
of “the gentle widow,” Aegea, and told her his 
mission. 

“I thank thee,” she said. “These poor people 
here need me more than I need thy pay.” 

45 


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tt)c <g»otig £)ectee 

The following morning Decius and Artus called 
at the barrack together and Machaon related his 
experience. 

'^Art sure it is not a pose?” queried Artus cyni- 
cally. 

'‘Aye, noble tribune, I’ll wager my life ’tis not.” 

"The stubborn damsel!” said Decius testily, "I 
warrant she will not leave some greasy lover I Find 
another nurse.” 

"Pardon, noble senator, she hath no lover. I 
have investigated. I can find other nurses easily, 
yet none so able. She should be compelled to serve 
thee!” 

"Aye, but if bribe of purse fail, how then?” said 
Decius. 

"Patience, Decius,” interrupted Artus, "the man 
means well. Go to her thyself. Is not that the idea, 
physician?” 

Decius turned to Artus and said : 

"Thou too, Brutus ! Wouldst have me marry her 
to gain her service ?” 

"Truly Decius thou art clumsy in thy mind as 
an elephant. Go to her and use thy wit, — thus 
canst thou win with women.” 

"Have done. My wit with women !” said Decius 
as he laughed derisively. 

"Decius, thou thick-witted Ajax! Don thy toga, 
awe her with thy greatness and if she proves too 
stubborn, touch her heart.” 

The following morning, the litter of Decius was 
borne through the Subura to the insula where "the 
gentle widow” resided. 

"Gods, does she live in Belgica?” asked Decius 


as the (Sons Decree 


47 


testily. Eventually, however, they reached their 
point of destination. Decius climbed the flights of 
rickety stairs, clients and attendants following him. 
He saw a sweet faced woman, standing at the en- 
trance to a large but plainly furnished room. ‘‘The 
gentle widow” stood there calmly, apparently not 
disconcerted in the least by his visit, and it was that 
calmness perhaps which proved to be one of the 
efficacious methods by which she attained success in 
nursing the sick. Decius walked majestically into 
the room, his followers waiting at the entrance and 
filling the stairs. 

“Good plebian woman,” he said to her, as he in- 
augurated the campaign, the plan of which had been 
suggested by Artus, “I sent a messenger to thee last 
night offering payment for thy services. I come in 
person to double the amount, for thy accomplish- 
ments have reached my ears. I am the senator, 
Decius.” 

“Great senator,” she said, and Decius smiled, for 
her words signified an apparently easy conquest ; he 
frowned, however, as she continued, 

“Truly thou callest me plebian woman. As such, 
and by the laws of Rome, I am free in all my move- 
ments. They need me here in their misfortunes, 
more than I need thy money. See, my wants are 
simple. I appreciate the honour of thy offer, yet 
feel within my conscience that the only right thing 
is that I remain here.” 

She bowed signifying that as far as she was con- 
cerned, the interview was at an end. 

“By Pollux!” said Decius in astonishment, “dost 
refuse my offer?” 


48 


3s! tbe <2Jolis Dcme 


She made no reply. 

“Speak!” he said commandingly, for he was not 
accustomed to defeat in his desires. 

“Since thus dost thus command, I will put aside 
my freedom and answer thee. I nurse children and 
women, not beasts, who, when they mend, fly at 
each other’s throats again for sestertii^ like hungry 
dogs at meat — yet with no such good excuse. I 
nurse not beasts, but little children.” 

“And — and dost thou not fear to cross my de- 
sires?” stammered Decius now nonplussed. 

“I fear naught.” 

“By Jupiter! I seek not to threaten thee. Surely 
thou hast suffered that thou speakest thus! Thou 
hast won my respect by thy courage and honesty. 
Hear me, for I will now talk to thee, not as a pa- 
trician to plebian, but as man to woman.” He closed 
the door of the room, ordering his surprised at- 
tendants to await him below. 

“Listen, woman,” he continued in his strong voice, 
but he employed softer tones, '‘thy words are harsh 
when thou dost term men who fall in the arena, 
‘beasts’ !” 

Aegea remained silent. 

“Dost thou realize that this man I would have 
thee tend has come of woman, even as thou? He 
is human and not a beast.” 

“He is human in form, yet — ^beast in act,” she 
said. 

“Hear me patiently,” said Decius in even more 
subdued tones, “say, if thou didst have a son and 
he fell, wouldst thou not nurse him? Aye, for that 
is law of woman’s heart. This beast, as thou harsh- 
ly termest him, is a youth, not turned twenty. I 


as tfte (Sotrs Decree 


49 


became his patron only because I need his services. 
Still thou canst make no distinction between the 
stricken children whom thou servest, and he who 
lies even now upon his stomach in burning fever, 
his limbs tied to prevent movement that would open 
a deeply cleft muscle. Now by Jupiter! I vow 
he is indeed a child, — a child of death. As thou sayest 
truly, he is a gladiator, therefore thou dost reason 
that that condemns him! Yet we are all gladiators 
— in this strange arena of life ! Hear me further. 
He was so trained. Had he studied at Athens, who 
knows but that he may have been another Socrates ? 
He is but accident, aye, even as thou, and I, — and 
every other thing in life! Yet so evil a man is he 
that, as he lay wounded and they brought to him 
the gold of victory he so freely bled to gain, dost 
thou think he grasped the coins with avaricious 
hands? No, he smiled sadly and said, ‘give it to 
the families of those I slew.’ Such a beast is he! 
He has youth, courage, character, and gentleness 
and lies within the shadow of death. Yet thou 
sayest he is a beast ! O, woman, woman, this dying 
youth calls up a harshness I did not dream to find in 
one of such sweet and goodly mien. This stricken 
youth, — such as Rome needs, and of his kind, many 
more— does not fetch a single tender spark from 
thy bosom, — yet I tell thee, wert thou the grieving 
mother among the shades who now looks down 
upon him, thou wouldst indeed weep thy heart 
strings wrinkled, if thou didst see him deserted by 
a sister woman of Rome !” 

By this time, Aegea was sobbing quietly. Decius 
was looking at her thoughtfully; he had become en- 
thusiastic in the cause and told his story well. 


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“See, I, Decius, a senator, and general of Rome, 
who never begged for aught, even from a Caesar, 
do beg thee now, for favourable reply,” he said as 
he smiled, for he realized that the battle had been 
won. 

“Thou hast no ned to beg,” she said. 

“I will send a litter for thee on the morrow,” he 
said. “Accept this purse for those for whom thy 
heart so nobly bleeds.” Raising his hand he added, 
“Jupiter protect thee, until we meet again,” and 
walked quietly from the room. 


CHAPTER VIII 


Mecinia had been a frequent visitor to the bar- 
racks previous to the removal of Glaccus to the villa 
of Decius. The physician, however, had soon been 
compelled to deny her admittance to the barracks. 
This was done at the request of the patient him- 
self, who, from the first moment of his return to 
consciousness, had refused to recognize her; nor 
could the tear drops from her eyes falling caressing- 
ly upon his bloodless cheeks touch a responsive 
chord in his heart. Her amorous eyes that once had 
been his strongest hold on life had lost their fas- 
cination for him. It is often thus when death hovers 
about the door; those things that once had been a 
very part of our existence become ogres, reminding 
us perchance of our former weaknesses. It did not 
require an extended period for Mecinia to learn the 
truth, and she who once could have boasted of a 
hundred admirers, now often absented herself from 
her duties at the wine-shop. In the worst of us, 
there is a hidden string of our soul’s cithara, which 
at the proper touch will send forth melodies to woo 
the best that is within us. Thus it was with Me- 
cinia. The stroke of the sword that fateful day 
in the arena had struck deeper than the flesh of 
the gladiator, for it pierced the better nature of the 
wine-maid. 

One morning she hailed a passing public litter 

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which she entered and was soon borne from view. 
She ordered the calones, or carriers, to take her im- 
mediately to the barracks where, pressing a coin 
into the hand of an attendant, she bade him summon 
the physician who attended Glaccus. 

'‘What wouldst thou here?’' said Machaon to her. 

“Can I see Glaccus once more?” 

“Glaccus! Ha, thou art late, for he has gone!” 

“Gone ? Gone, sayest thou ? Thou dost not mean 
that he — that he — is — dead?” gasped Mecinia. 

“No, but this morn he was taken to the villa of 
none other than the senator Decius where I will 
go to join them presently.” 

“The villa of Decius!” said Mecinia in astonish- 
ment. 

“Aye, find thou a stronger lover.” 

With drooping head, Mecinia returned to the lit- 
ter. 

“Whither lady ?” asked the calones. 

“Onward, ooiward, I care not, I will pay ye,” she 
replied. They bore her quickly from the region of 
the Campus Martius, and when they stopped to rest 
Mecinia said to them, 

“Couldst thou carry me further, through the 
Capenan gate?” 

They replied in the affirmative, again lifted the 
litter to their shoulders and eventually arrived out- 
side the Porta Capena, where she paid and dismissed 
them and soon entered a vehicle she hired. 

“To the villa of Decius near the Via Appia! Take 
me there quickly and thou shalt be well paid,” she 
said to the driver. 

The vehicle travelled speedily along the road, the 
driver, avaricious for reward, urging his steeds. He 


30 tfte (©OD 0 Decree 


53 


stopped at the white marble steps at the foot of the 
sloping plain where it was the custom of Decia to 
await her father’s return. She chanced at this mo- 
ment to be waiting there for that same purpose, and 
was surprised at the appearance of this visitor. 
Women were infrequent callers, save upon occasion 
of special dinners, and at such times Decia was not 
present in the triclinium. 

“Canst thou tell me, maiden, is this the villa of 
the senator Decius?” said Mecinia to the daughter 
of Decius. 

“Aye,” replied Decia. At that moment, the mili- 
eus, whose duty it was to guard the entrance, ap- 
proached them. 

“Canst thou tell me if there now lies within a 
wounded man called Glaccus?” continued Mecinia. 

“Aye,” replied Decia, “he arrived this morning.” 

“Who art thou, lady ?” inquired the villicus. 

“Wilt thou take me to him?” asked Mecinia of 
Decia, ignoring the villicus and believing the maiden 
to be perchance some relative of the owner living 
there. Waving the villicus aside, Decia, puzzled, 
yet strangely interested by the sad face of Mecinia 
and thinking her perchance to be a sister of the sick 
man, sympathetically led her along the pathway that 
was lined on both sides by tall trees with dark green 
ivy growing at times from one tree to another and 
forming natural festoons. The maiden gave Mecinia 
into the care of an old Thracian slave. 

As Mecinia and the aged slave walked slowly 
toward the rustica, the latter questioned her. 

“Art you perchance some relative?” he asked. 

“Alas, no,” she replied, and though mystified, he 
remained silent. 


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“Canst thou tell me, good man,” she questioned 
him in return, '‘if the sick man rests easy after the 
journey?” 

“I know not,” he replied, “yet ’tis said that he is 
dangerously ill.” 

She clasped her hand to her heart and swayed as 
though she would fall. 

“Do not despair,” he said, “there is always hope, 
which is a great gift from the gods !” 

She took a small silver coin from her purse and 
pressed it into his palm. 

“No,” he said, “those who serve the noble Decius 
sell not their services when needed in a righteous 
cause. I could have my freedom but choose to re- 
main here in servitude rather than be master to 
another slave!” 

“Thou art indeed blessed, good man, to be so 
well placed,” said Mecinia. 

“May the gods shower all blessings upon my 
noble master,” said the slave, “and, too, upon his 
beautiful daughter.” 

“Daughter, sayest thou? Has he then a daugh- 
ter?” 

“Aye, didst thou not see her? Art thou ill? She 
led thee to me I” 

“His daughter!” said Mecinia in surprise, “the 
maiden who humbly guided me as though she were 
a slave? ’Tis impossible !” 

“Indeed ’tis true. Art blind in thy worries?” 
and he smiled as he continued, “Thou art like the 
rest who think that because she is a domina she 
rules all things by command! Not so the gentle 
lady Decia!” 

They had by this time arrived at the entrance of 


30 tbt ©OD0 Decree 55 


one of the buildings where the Thracian bade her 
await him. 

Aegea came from within the house and walked to 
Mecinia. 

She led Mecinia to a bench. The wine-maid, 
broken in spirit, sore in body, began to sob. 

“Thou hast not told me who thou art, nor the 
object of thy visit,” said Aegea gently. 

‘T come to learn how Glaccus withstood the jour- 
ney.” 

“He has much fever,” replied Aegea. “Is he 
perchance thy brother or lover?” 

“Alas, neither,” replied the wine-maid between 
her sobs. Briefly she told Aegea the story of her 
life, dwelling mostly upon that period of it which 
concerned Glaccus. 

“Let Nemesis claim me!” she concluded, “for I 
sent him to the fatal combat. He was but a novice 
yet I mocked and jeered at him, so that to win my 
love, youth as he is, too soon he entered against the 
veterans. O, Glaccus ! Glaccus I” and she continued 
to sob. 

“Cease, cease,” said Aegea as she folded Mecinia 
in her arms, “bear up, perchance all may come right, 
even though, alas, thou didst treat the youth 
cruelly !” 

At that moment Decius came upon the scene. 

“Whom have we here?” he said seriously. “My 
orders were for strict privacy. Who is this weep- 
ing woman?” 

Mecinia lifted her face and said : “I — I come from 
the wine shop of Largus.” 

“I have seen thy face before; yet why art thou 
not at the wine-cups said Decius. 


56 30 tfte (goD0 Dectee 

“I — came — to — see — to see — Glaccus,” said Me- 
cinia. 

At this moment, Aegea said softly: 

“Good senator, she loves the stricken youth.” 

“How gained she admittance? My orders to the 
villicus were strict,” he continued. 

“None other than thy daughter gave permission 
to admit her,” said Aegea. 

“Did — did she thus? Well — well, — thou must 
go,” he continued hesitatingly. 

“Nay, good senator! This woman journeyed 
from Rome in haste and is tired. Can she not rest 
until the morrow ?” 

“Thou rulest this part of the rustica, good Aegea. 
Has the woman had food and drink ?” he asked, his 
better nature conquering. He did not wait for a 
reply, however, but walked into the house where 
Glaccus lay, with cleft muscle tightly bandaged 
and body fastened to the heavy couch to prevent 
movement. Decius frowned deeply as he observed 
the fevered condition of the patient. The journey 
had told heavily on the youth. 

Aegea was endeavouring to make Mecinia com- 
fortable in a nearby building, when Decius ap- 
proached her. 

“Aegea,” he said, “I do not like the condition of 
the sick man.” 

“Alas, he is doing poorly. We can judge bet- 
ter, however, after sun-down.” 

Aegea was plainly worried. However she bathed 
the temples of Glaccus with cool water as he lay 
there and was tireless in her efforts. 


CHAPTER IX 


Decius walked that afternoon to the rustica. As 
he approached he was startled by groans and words 
of endearment in mixed succession coming from 
within the room where Glaccus lay. Hastily enter- 
ing he observed Aegea dashing water on the face 
of the youth, while the physician was employed 
bathing the exposed limbs and back. Glaccus con- 
tinued to rave. 

“Thou fiend of Hecate! Hold not my arm! 
How can I fight thus ? Give me my net ! Mecinia, 
take thy hands from my throat! Help, help! I 
cannot fight thus! Help, help!” 

Even Decius experienced a slight shudder as he 
listened. Aegea was pale and the physician looked 
on hopelessly. Mecinia, crouching beneath the win- 
dow, pale and terror-stricken, was listening with 
anguished heart to the curses hurled at her by the 
sick man. 

Decius was a picture of disappointment at the ill 
turn affairs had taken. Aegea shook her head sad- 
ly. It meant that she was powerless and that the 
end was near. Machaon clenched his fist and mur- 
mured, “How powerless we are against the will of 
the gods!” 

Decius, who had been deep in thought, said sud- 
denly : 

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^‘Machaon, send to Rome at once for the tribune 
Artus. Have the tabelarii use swift horses. Should 
they not find him at home, they are to have the 
city scoured for him.” 

The physician ran hastily toward the stables and 
ere long the sound of galloping hoofs was heard 
from direction of the Via Appia. Decius turned 
to Aegea. 

“If this wound opens and bleeds afresh, he’ll 
probably die ere morn. I am disappointed and 
have sent for Artus. Be it fancy or fate, I want 
the life of this youth !” 

The messengers were fortunate in finding Artus, 
who upon hearing the message, immediately went 
forth. Soon the tribune passed through the Cape- 
nan gate and securing a mount rode speedily along 
the Appian way. When he arrived at the villa his 
steed was covered with foam and groaning from 
the lashes of the rider. Dismounting, Artus sped 
quickly past the villictis and ran to the rustica. 

“A greeting, Decius!” 

“By Jupiter! here already! Now that was god- 
like! Listen, I am grievously disappointed. The 
youth is dying. Machaon admits that he is pow- 
erless.” 

“Dying, Decius? Alas! so will the gods! Yet 
I cannot see why thou shouldst take it so to heart. I 
mind not the ride yet if it be that thou deplorest 
the loss of his services, — by Pollux! are there no 
other men? Save thyself this unnecessary worry. 
However, I also am sorry for the youth. He 
made a splendid fight!” 

“Artus,” said Decius, “canst thou do naught to 
save him?” 


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“I, Decius? I am no physician!” 

‘‘Think, Artus, think I I want the youth more, — 
than thou canst imagine; I cannot now tell thee 
why. What can we do?” 

Artus calmly folded his arms and gazed thought- 
fully at Glaccus, who was groaning and struggling 
to loosen the bonds. 

“Decius, send for some ice and snow. I once 
witnessed a cure that I will attempt, — yet ’tis a 
harsh remedy!” 

Artus proceeded to remove the few pieces of gar- 
ment that covered the patient, and after having re- 
moved the bandages bathed the sore parts of the 
wound. The flesh where the leather bands had cut 
into it was then soothed with pure olive oil. Mean- 
while the ice and snow had been brought and Artus, 
having administered a strong sleeping potion, im- 
mediately packed the wrists, ankles and temples of 
Glaccus with it. 

This method served to reduce the fever, and soon 
afterwards the sick man sank into a heavy sleep. 
As they left the room, they saw Mecinia lying upon 
her back near the window, beating her breast with 
her clinched hands and calling tearfully on all the 
gods to save Glaccus! 

The following morning dawned dark and gloomy. 
Heavy gray clouds overhung the Italian landscape 
and a penetrating chilliness had crept into the air. 
It had been a wearying night for all at the villa of 
Decius. The duties of Aegea had not ceased with 
the slumber of Glaccus. Another difficult task was 
the care of grief-stricken Mecinia, who lay on a 
couch in the room of the nurse. Dark rings encir- 
cled the eyes of the wine-maid and the roses of 


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her cheeks had fled at the cold touch of remorse. 
Aegea had soothed and consoled her, ofttimes giving 
at just the proper moment that touch of severity 
needed to bring the sorrowing woman back to self 
control. Onfe more duty still remained to be per- 
formed; a difficult one indeed, for Aegea must tell 
Mecinia that henceforth Glaccus must be no dweller 
in her hopes, and therefore she said : 

“Go forth, sister, into the world, where thou 
canst find active employment that will help heal 
the lashes of thy disappointment. Henceforth, and 
methinks I have judged rightly, Glaccus will turn 
from thee. Such is man! Glaccus will awaken to 
a new day and no longer wilt thou be his sun!” 

Together they strolled in the bleak dawn, until 
they reached a clump of trees, near the stream. 
Aegea advised Mecinia to leave immediately and 
without a farewell interview with Glaccus. 

“Go, Mecinia,” she said, “with the knowledge 
that thy lover is saved; this should console thee. 
Thou hast no more food for remorse, even though 
it was thy cruelty which goaded him to combat. 
Doth it not appear that the gods so willed it?” 

As Mecinia entered the light cisium that had 
been provided for her she kissed Aegea. The 
former was now composed, but there had ap- 
peared upon her countenance an expression of mel- 
ancholy. Soon the sounds of cantering hoofs faded 
in the distance. 

Aegea pressed her hands to her eyes and strove 
to keep back the tears. For some moments her 
gaze sought the direction of the Appian way which 
was feeling the touch of the day’s wonted activity. 

“Another one of us !” mused Aegea. 


as tfie <SoDS Decree 




She turned slowly and wandered back to the 
house where Glaccus lay. Decius was standing at 
the entrance. 

“Thou art a woman of heart, gentle Aegea,*’ 
was all he said to her, but the soft tones of his 
voice carried a volume of appreciation. Decius had 
become accustomed to the harshness of human na- 
ture. Even Artus whom he loved as a brother was 
cold and at times almost distant. He had found 
the women that he had known during his life, with 
the exception of his “precious lamb,” and his de- 
ceased wife, calculating, selfish, ambitious, and tears 
for others had indeed been rare. Realization of 
this had touched his heart deeply when he thought 
of the sympathy of Aegea for Mecinia, a stranger. 

“Greetings in the name of Jupiter!” said Artus to 
Decius and Aegea. “Methinks I can read upon 
thy countenances the favor of Fortune I” 

“Thou art right,” replied Decius, “and I am 
indebted to thee for it. However, thou didst have 
an able assistant in the nurse here.” 

“By Aesculapius I without the nurse^s aid I 
would have been powerless; therefore to the good 
nurse belongs more than a full share of credit. 
Yet in the haste of the business, thou hast not given 
me formal introduction.” 

“True, Artus, I did forget it, yet methinks co- 
labors such as thine yesternight were better than 
words. This is Aegea, ‘the gentle widow*.” Both 
bowed and Artus continued along the path toward 
the house where Glaccus lay. 

Artus gazed steadily at the youth who slept on 
peacefully, and the former peered closely at the un- 
covered wound which showed less inflammation. 


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At this moment Decius joined him, and together 
they walked toward the stable where Artus selected 
a light cisium, a two wheeled cart suitable for fast 
traveling. While awaiting the harnessing of the 
steed, Decia was seen standing at the further side 
of the bridge which spanned the stream running 
through the grounds. 

Decius, see yonder early rising beauty !” said 
Artus, and together they walked toward the bridge 
to her. 

‘‘O, Tribune Artus,” she said, “didst thou in- 
tend to so wrong me by going to Rome without 
saying farewell? Father, he treats me ill!” 

“My Decia,” said Artus, “I thought that Mor- 
pheus had thee wrapped in an embrace I envied.” 

He mounted the cart and with a crack of the 
whip the vehicle was off post-haste toward the 
Appian way. They watched the cisiiim until it 
entered the “via,” Decia waving her hand. Decius 
lifted her suddenly high in the air, then kissed her 
forehead and her cheeks. 

“Come,” he said, “some fresh-born grapes will 
find a ready welcome in my pouch. Thou art ‘my 
lamb’, Artus my friend, Glaccus convalescing, the 
gods my allies, and I am — almost happy !” 

They entered the summer triclinium. 

After leaving Decius, Aegea engaged in earnest 
conversation with Machaon, discussing future plans 
for the convalescence of the patient. 

“Gk)od physician,” she said, “all is well and the 
noble senator is happy at the outcome. The sick 
youth is undoubtedly a new fancy of his. So it is 
with the rich!” 

“May the gods grant us continued success, good 


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nurse,” he replied, ‘‘Already I love this place and 
would that I could stay here forever !” 

At this moment a slight moan was heard. Quick- 
ly entering they saw that Glaccus had awakened. 

“Drink! drink!” he whispered hoarsely. Aegea 
hastily gave him a cup of cool water, holding it to 
his mouth and letting the contents slowly trickle 
down his parched throat. 

“More !” he cried when the cup was empty. 

“Nay, good youth,” said Aegea softly, “present- 
ly I will give thee more, and soon thy noble patron, 
the senator, will join thee in cups of choice Faler- 
nian. Sleep a little more. Thou knowest thy fu- 
ture is assured when thou dost mend.” Thus talk- 
ing gently and encouragingly to him, she took the 
wet cloths from the hands of the physician and 
bathed the forehead of Glaccus. 


CHAPTER X 


In compliance with the request of Mecinia for 
a speedy return to Rome, the driver urged a team 
of swift Cappadocian horses along the Appian way. 
The sepulchral monuments consisting of shafts, 
broken columns, altars and even pyramids of lesser 
magnitude which lined the great road on both sides 
for a distance of several miles from the gate of the 
city, were swiftly passed. Ere long the vehicle ar- 
rived outside the Capenan gate, which was in charge 
of a detail of the cohortes vigilum. A centurion, 
Claudius by name, though serving in the praetorian 
cohortes, was on “special duty”, and was making 
his rounds. He was surprised at beholding the 
froth-covered steeds, dust begrimed driver, and pale- 
faced, sad-eyed occupant. He approached as the 
driver drew in the steeds, and in a voice more kind- 
ly than was his usual wont said : 

“The nature of thy business in Rome?” 

The driver spoke and said : 

“This is the cisium of the noble senator Decius, 
who has sent this lady under my care to the city.” 

Claudius bowed his head affirmatively signifying 
that all was well, and turning again to Mecinia, he 
said : 

“I know the noble Decius. Surely thou art thirsty 
and tired after travelling; rest here until one of 
the men brings thee drink.” 

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Mecinia bowed in token of grateful acceptance 
and alighted from the vehicle, the driver of which 
now sought water for his thirsty steeds. Mecinia 
seated herself, and Claudius stood before her striving 
to gain a better view of her face that was partly 
covered by the dark paenula or cloak. 

‘‘Didst thou not find the hospitality of the noble 
Decius consistent with its excellent reputation?” 
continued the soldier, striving to prolong the con- 
versation. 

“I was no guest there, centurion, but simply a 
visitor,” she replied, addressing Claudius for the 
first time by his rank, a fact which pleased him. 

Thus conversing they did not notice a figure re- 
clining against a wall, straining his ears so as to 
lose no word of the conversation. Had the two been 
less oblivious to their surroundings, they would 
have had no difficulty in perceiving that the listener 
had more than passing interest in their conversa- 
tion. 

“Hast thou perchance lost thy husband, or lover, 
that thou dost wear so dark a habiliment?” in- 
quired Claudius. 

“No, inquisitive soldier, yet, — yet, Aedepol! I 
will tell thee! I have lost even more than that!” 

“I regret the question,” said Claudius. 

“Thou has naught to regret. I thank thee for 
thy courtesy,” replied Mecinia as she drank the cup 
of water that had been brought to her. 

“Can I perchance be of assistance in directing 
thee to thy destination?” 

“I have no point of destination and must dismiss 
the driver.” 

Claudius was surprised at hearing this. 


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“No point of destination!” he exclaimed, “hast 
thou no father, brother, husband, friend in Rome?” 

“ ’Tis as thou sayest. I have nothing in Rome 
save my purse, which is of no such weight that I 
cannot carry it.” 

“Alas, is it so? How unfortunate; but hold. 
Think not ill of me if I make suggestion.” 

At his words she raised her face and gazed 
piercingly into his eyes as if to there learn the mean- 
ing of his suggestion. He was startled at the beauty 
of her pale face with its sad expression; nor was 
he blind to the graceful outlines of her form. 

“I am, as thou seest, a soldier. I reside with my 
grandmother, a very aged lady, who claims to have 
known Julius Caesar when he was a child. Long has 
she been lonesome for companionship, for my duties 
keep me from her much of the time; therefore, I 
doubt not that she would welcome thee heartily, — 
if thou wouldst but pay the price she would demand, 
namely, listen at frequent intervals, to her tales of 
the former strength and virtues of Romans who 
now occupy mausoleums!” He laughed as he con- 
tinued : “It is a habit of age, alas ! and I have had 
more than my full share of the tales!” 

She did not smile but said coldly : 

“Art sure, centurion, thou wouldst demand no 
other payment?” 

At these words, the face of the soldier flushed. 

“Thou dost wrong me, stranger,” said Claudius, 
“in proof of which I vow, by Jupiter! I have no 
other motive, for, ere long, I will leave for foreign 
service and it is therefore that I doubly desire a 
companion for my aged relative.” 

“Forgive me,” she said, “but I have suffered so 


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much that I have become an unbeliever in, — every- 
thing.” 

Their unperceived auditor, crouching nearby, 
crept closer and held his hand to his ear. 

“Thy suggestion is most welcome,” she added, 
“and in my present extremity I will gladly accept 
the place. Wilt thou send me to her? • I promise 
that I will be most patient.” 

“I will take thee immediately,” replied Claudius. 
He then despatched a messenger to his optio, or 
adjutant, and left the gate with Mecinia. Together 
they walked up the “vicus.” Claudius hailed a 
public litter. Unperceived the spy followed, until 
he saw them arrive at a pretty house in the Aven- 
tine. Mecinia was conducted to a seat in the atrium, 
while Claudius went in search of his grandmother. 
He soon returned with her and Mecinia arose at 
the entrance of this old, though stately patrician, 
who said smilingly : 

“Whom have we here, Claudius? Hast thou 
brought a wife to brighten this familiaf^ 

Claudius blushed and said: “Nay, for a man can- 
not serve both Thalassus and Mars ; I have brought 
thee a companion, for, as thou knowest, ere long I 
will join the legions in Hispania and could not bear 
to think of thee without some close cornpanion. I 
know that thou wilt agree with me in my choice.” 

“ Twas thoughtful of thee, grandson, yet thou 
hast not told me the name of the maiden !” 

“By Hercules! I — I know it not!” stammered 
Claudius. 

“Impulsive as ever, thou overgrown boy! Yet it 
matters not. How shall I call thee,” said the old 
lady addressing Mecinia. . 


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'‘After this lucky day, on which Fortune has 
brought me such kindly welcome, methinks the 
name of Fortunse would be a fitting one,” said Me- 
cinia as she smiled. 

“Thou hast ready wit and the name will suffice. 
Fortunae! It reminds me of a friend I had in the 
great days of the old Republic who, though not as 
beautiful as thou art, was related by direct descent 
to none other than the conqueror of Hanno, the 
mighty Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus himself!” 

At these words Claudius shuffled his feet in ap- 
parent nervousness and as if he expected a long 
tirade. However, his grandmother spared him. 

“Return to thy duties, Claudius, and I will make 
this new member of our fmmlia comfortable.” 

Claudius bowed and said : “I hope, lady Fortunae, 
that thou wilt find all comfort in this home.” He 
then left them. 

His grandmother was known as “Fulvia, the An- 
cient,” owing to her great age and strict adherence 
to old customs. She clapped her hands twice and, 
upon the appearance of a slave, commanded that 
“the lady Fortunae” be conducted to a cubiculum. 
She then gave orders to a handmaiden to immediate- 
ly go to “Fortunae” and remain with her. Mecinia 
reviewed the strange events of the day. 

Claudius returned in time for coena, which was 
the most elaborate meal of the day, and took place 
about the beginning of the tenth hour. Meanwhile, 
however, the crafty old lady had sent a messenger 
to Decius, for Claudius had informed her that For- 
tunae had come from the senator's villa. She wrote 
on a wax tablet as follows: 

^‘To the Senator Decius, greeting from Fulvia : — 


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*'1 have now under my roof a strange lady, who 
has this day applied to me to take position in my 
household as companion to me in my old age. I 
am informed that she came from thy villa. Wilt 
thou send me word by my messenger and tell me 
if thou dost think she will be a fitting companion 
for me ? It is a long period since these dim eyes of 
mine have seen thee, Decius.” 

Decius was seated on the portico of his villa when 
the villicus conducted to him the dust-covered mes- 
senger. The senator read the tablet. 

“By the gods! Methinks I am getting in my 
dotage ; I, who could direct a hundred cohorts on the 
moment, now hesitate when called upon to decide 
affairs of women! Ah, I’ll consult Aegea!” He 
summoned the nurse to whom he handed the tablet. 

“Thou knowest, Aegea,” he said, “of the past 
life of Mecinia; therefore I know not what to say in 
answer to this. I cannot give to her the recom- 
mendation of a vestal. Advise me.” 

“Answer as thou dost think!” said Aegea. 

“I think the wine-maid, with good intentions, will 
be a good companion.” 

“Tell her so,” said Aegea, “and thou hast done 
thy duty.” 

Decius despatched a slave for stylus and wax- 
tablet and wrote the following: — 

“To the lady Fulvia. Greetings and the blessings 
of Hygeia from Decius : 

“The woman of whom thou dost write to me is, 
to my full belief, most well meaning in her inten- 
tions, and I think that thou wilt not regret thy choice 
of her as companion. I hope to visit thee in the 
near future.’' 


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‘‘My thanks, good Aegea, for thy assistance,” 
said Decius as he read the lines. “Truly I am be- 
coming so that I employ everybody as a crutch to 
lean upon! Old age must be gripping me!” He 
smiled as she left him on her return to rustica. 

The messenger returned to the lady Fulvia while 
she, together with Claudius and Mecinia, were en- 
joying the evening meal. The old patrician took the 
tablet, bearing the message of Decius, and read it 
with a smile of satisfaction. 

The “Lady Fulvia” retired early as was her cus- 
tom. In the privacy of the cubiculum, Mecinia 
smiled with grim satisfaction as she mused, “When 
Claudius goes on foreign service, methinks I will 
be the mistress here! A wondrous onward step in 
one brief day! If I progress so rapidly, it will not 
be long ere Glaccus, of his own accord, will come 
wooing the lady Fortunae!” 


CHAPTER XI 


The senator Donatus was one of the richest and 
most powerful men in Rome. He was over sixty 
years of age and claimed descendency from one of 
the oldest families, and though there was none to 
dispute him, many had their doubts as to the ver- 
acity of his statements and the authenticity of his 
proofs. Some claimed that his early life was clouded 
in mystery. In an unknown manner, however, he 
had earned the friendship of Julius Caesar and one 
day appeared suddenly in Rome as a man of afflu- 
ence. He built a magnificent mansion on the Palatine, 
which was replete with every detail of luxury. Rich 
Babylonian carpets and rugs from far Eastern 
looms, silken draperies, gold and silver ornaments, 
magnificently carved furniture, and a thousand and 
one other requisites of an unusually luxuriant home, 
were all to be found within his great palace. His 
familia was a numerous one, as it must needs be to 
properly care for the spacious property. He was a 
man of base passions which had left their marks 
upon his countenance, and was in fact known as a 
voluptuary, — a sensualist who entertained on a lavish 
scale. Notwithstanding his poses in the senate, he 
had but two aims in life, the increase of his wealth 
and the pursuit of pleasure. He was a frequenter of 
the slave marts, a constant seeker after new beauties, 
and it was further said of him that he had made 

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more than one journey to Delos, the great slave 
emporium! He would stop at naught to gain his 
ends. His wealth indeed made him all powerful, 
and it was said that once the crafty Donatus desired 
anything, it was the same as though it was already 
his. He made it one of his rules of life to learn 
every possible detail regarding the people with whom 
he came in contact or who crossed his path of self- 
interest at any turn. He employed numerous spies 
and gained pleasure from the hold he was enabled 
to obtain over many people whom he ruled secretly. 
At times the most secret meetings between two peo- 
ple were known to none other than Donatus. Sena- 
tors, clients, plebians, slaves! He used them all 
and received reports from them as to the doings of 
those in whom he had even the slightest interest. 
Such was Donatus who had been one of the guests 
at the feast given by Lucius, the young philosopher, 
the evening that Regus had recited his verses on 
^Tarpeia.’" 

The night that Mecinia slept for the first time 
in the home of the lady Fulvia, Donatus was in- 
formed by his vicarius (a slave who was attendant 
to his ostiensis) of the visit of one who had informa- 
tion which might prove of interest. Donatus ordered 
the man to be immediately admitted, and the spy who 
had overheard the words between Claudius and 
Mecinia at the Capenan gate entered and told the 
senator of the conversation and events of the morn- 
ing. 

^‘And dost thou know her identity?” 

“Nay, Lord, yet soon I expect to learn it from 
my companion who has kept watch outside the villa 
of Decius.” 


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Even as they were speaking, however, the man 
referred to entered, and though he said he had noted 
the arrival and departure of the visitor at the villa, 
he could give but little further information; he 
added, however, that when the strange woman ar- 
rived, she had been admitted by none other than the 
daughter of Decius. He had seen the woman leave 
early the following morning. He recognized her by 
her splendid figure, he said. “By Castor and Pol- 
lux! The figure of a Juno!” he added. 

At hearing these words, Donatus showed 
increased interest. 

“Art thou impressed with her charms?” he said 
aloud, and to himself added : “Can there be a newly 
arrived beauty in Rome to eclipse all others? — and 
coming from Decius ! I must learn more of this !” 

He dismissed them after commanding them to 
continue their watchfulness and report any further 
details they could learn regarding the woman and 
the villa of Decius, which Donatus, for certain rea- 
sons, kept under continual surveillance. 

“So she is at the house of that ancient cat Ful- 
via!” he mused after they had departed. “Me- 
thinks I will visit her this very evening upon some 
pretext.” 

That night he presented himself at the home of 
the lady Fulvia. He was armed for the fray. He 
had come, he said, for information regarding a cer- 
tain period in the life of Marius. This question im- 
mediately aroused the interest of the lady Fulvia. 
Donatus had learned her weak spot, and she was 
beside herself with gratitude for his consulting her 
upon that subject on which she claimed to be an au- 
thority. She talked and talked, and Donatus re- 


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mained hoping to obtain a glance of her new com- 
panion. He was rewarded, for Mecinia entered the 
atrium to remind the lady Fulvia that the first vigil 
had passed. 

“Can it be possible !” said the crafty senator, “so 
splendidly has thou entertained me that I forgot 
time! I ask thy pardon and henceforth must for- 
ever be thy debtor.” 

“Say not so, noble Donatus,” replied the lady 
Fulvia, “thou wert most welcome. Let me present 
to thee a new addition to my small familia, For- 
tunae here, who will be my companion in my loneli- 
ness. Like me, she has seen much trouble and has 
already won my heart. Thou knowest Donatus, 
that ere long my Claudius goes to Hispania 1” 

Donatus gazed at Mecinia, disguising with an 
effort his admiration for her, but said to Fulvia: 
“Thou art fortunate indeed to have found so sweet 
and beautiful a companion.” He bowed, but Me- 
cinia waved her hand deprecatingly, and Donatus 
did not fail to note the grace of her movement, nor 
the shapeliness of her arm. 

When he returned to his palace in the Palatine he 
had already made his plans for possession of this, 
his newest fancy. 

“A living Venus, by Jupiter ! Claudius must leave 
on foreign service sooner than he doth expect!” he 
mused, “and yet that might not be such good policy.” 

The following morning, however, he decided and 
despatched the following letter: — • 

“To the Lady Fulvia, greeting from thy friend, 
Donatus. I am not ungrateful for thy information, 
in proof of which I will send to thee this day a re- 
lease from foreign service for thy pet, Claudius. I 


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have arranged it for thee that he need not leave until 
a year has passed. If thou dost appreciate this trif- 
ling favor, as indeed I know thou dost, thou canst 
do for me a service that I would not soon forget. I 
sorely need another woman to assist in the control 
of my domestics, for I remain a widower. Thou 
knowest I am too busy with affairs of state to marry. 
Thy companion Fortunse has been so highly recom- 
mended to me that I desire to employ her in this 
capacity. I give thee in place of her, however, the 
companionship of thy grandson Claudius. I will 
call upon thee ere the first vigil and trust the gods 
will grant me favorable reply from thee. I com- 
mend thee to the care of Jupiter until we meet.” 

Upon the receipt of this tablet the ancient pa- 
trician could not repress a cry of delight. 

“The gods be praised! My Claudius to remain 
with me another year I” she said. 

She then turned to Fortunae and continued: “I 
regret to lose thee, yet must I choose between my 
grandson and thee. However, thou hast glorious op- 
portunity in the house of Donatus! Serve him well 
and he will generously reward thee. I will arrange 
it for thee. Read this letter!” 

The following afternoon Mecinia moved to the 
house of Donatus, who introduced her to the entire 
fanvilia. She was practically given full power in 
the performance of her new duties, and time passed 
uneventfully for her. She made sacrifices to For- 
tune in gratitude. Glaccus, however, remained a 
fixed thought in her mind, and her love for him in- 
creased with the passing of time. She saw oppor- 
tunities for her individual progress, and through the 
unusual generosity of her master was enabled to 


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accumulate considerable savings. In her mind’s eye, 
she could see the day upon which, providing her 
plans matured successfully, she would be in the pos- 
session of such power that he who had fought in 
the arena for a bag of coins would gladly accept her 
love and beauty, when supported by sufficient money. 


CHAPTER XII 


The weeks passed uneventfully at the villa of 
Decius. Glaccus continued to improve although the 
progress was slow. Time, coupled with nourishment 
and rest, were the necessary factors contributing to 
his convalescence. As yet, however, he walked at a 
slow pace and was often compelled from very weak- 
ness to lean upon a staff. His eyes had become 
sunken into their sockets, his limbs were lean and he 
stooped as he moved along slowly. 

Sometimes Aegea, sitting on a marble bench near 
the house, would be joined by Glaccus, to whom she 
would say: 

‘Thy future is assured, lucky youth, with so gen- 
erous a patron!” 

During this period a strong friendship had been 
formed between patient and nurse. He learned to 
love her for her gentleness, her unfailing cheerful- 
ness and her sweet attentions, and looked up to her 
as to a saving goddess of goodness. Sometimes she 
would speak of the growing power of Rome, of the 
promises of great Augustus, for the welfare and 
progress of the republic. Of times, however, his eyes 
would become drowsy and she would gently lead him 
to his couch. If the night was warm she would fan 
him, and even sing softly to him as though he were 
a child. Then she would sit outside and converse 
with Machaon, the physician. 

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When Glaccus became a little stronger he would 
wander down to the banks of a small stream that, 
caressed and shaded on each side by woodland, di- 
vided the villa rustica from the villa proper. At 
times he would lay upon the bank and dream — day 
dreams of coming military fame amidst the activity 
of war; and even where he lay he could sometimes 
hear the sounds of the cohorts as they marched past 
on the Appian Way, the regular tramp of marching 
men, the blasts of the Htuii and tubae, the clatter of 
horses’ hoofs of the cavalry, the rumble of the pro- 
vision and baggage wagons followed in their wake. 
Sometimes he would be aroused by the soft voice 
of Aegea who would bring him a bowl of broth or 
a cup of calda, wine sweetened with honey; often, 
when the weather was warm, he would sink into 
sleep. At times he would dream of the dryads and 
the nymphs who were supposed to inhabit all the 
woodlands. One morning he dreamed that he saw 
a beautiful golden-haired nymph beckoning him to 
cross the stream to her! The belief of the supersti- 
tious at that time was that whosoever should behold 
a nymph would not live to tell it. Glaccus awoke 
from his dream, and as he rubbed his eyes, there on 
the opposite bank of the stream he beheld a nymph, 
the nymph of his dreams I She had golden hair, and 
he imagined that he saw upon her face an expression 
of pity for him and yet, with a touch of mischievous- 
ness lurking about her eyes and tiny mouth with 
its red lips, the colour of the wild rose with pearly 
teeth showing between. He struggled to his knees, 
pale as death, crying: 

“Take me not ! Take me not ! Spare me to serve 
the noble Decius!” 


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Then he fell into a faint. A rustle on the opposite 
shore denoted the speedy disappearance of “the 
nymph,” who chanced to be none other than Decia. 
In a spirit of mischief she had broken her father’s 
rule which was that she was not to stray from cer- 
tain boundaries on the grounds of the villa proper. 
She had been startled by the sudden awakening of 
Glaccus ! Aegea found the youth unconscious when 
she came to seek him, and placing a cup of wine to 
his mouth, revived him. He was pale and trembling, 
and Aegea sped quickly toward the rustica calling 
for help. Machaon, the physician, and three slaves 
followed with a stretcher and carried the youth back 
to the rustica. There was, however, little need for 
alarm. He speedily recovered and said to Aegea : 

“By great Jupiter! good nurse, a most favourable 
omen! I saw a nymph — aye, with these eyes of 
mine, and yet I live! Doth it not signify that I 
am in high favor with the gods?” 

“It doth indeed,” replied Aegea, humouring him. 
She knitted her brows, however, and wondered: 
“What can it mean? It cannot be that he has be- 
come weak in mind! I must tell Decius this very 
day!” 

That evening the chariot of Artus stopped at the 
villa. The tribune walking quickly up the marbled 
path said to Decius : 

“We made great speed to arrive in time, and truly 
I am famished. No bird tongues to tempt my ap- 
petite, host Decius !” 

During the course of the meal Artus said : 

“Thou hast not told me, Decius, how fare my 
chances of gaining a praetorship ?” 

“Chances, sayest thou, Artus! Now truly thou 


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wilt anger me. Have I not had thy furlough 
doubled? I told thee it will be thine in time, and 
too, thou knowest that neither Augustus nor Taurus 
refuse me aught. Fear not that ere long I’ll see thee 
sending miscreants to the Tullianum!” 

'‘Decius, thou art indeed a friend and patron to 
me. Thy words make me almost happy !” 

^‘Good,” said Decius, “and thou, my lamb, must 
soon needs say Praetor Artus in place of Tribune 
Artus. Dost thou like the change ?” 

“O, my father, I fear ! See how harshly he judges 
me now. How then will it be when he wears the 
praetexta of such superior magistracy?” she said. 

“And truly, Decia,” replied Artus, “I will con- 
demn thee to serve forever as goddess of all my 
hopes.” 

Decia had become quiet and thoughtful, which 
prompted Decius to say: 

“What means that line between thy eyes, my 
lamb? Art frightened at the mighty words of 
Artus ?” 

“My father, I have confession to make to thee !” 
and she smiled roguishly. 

“Confession, sayest thou? Ha! What foul 
crime hast thou committed now? Careful of thy 
words which will be used as evidence against thee, — 
for there sits the Praetor Artus !” 

“Perchance, father, the crime is grave! I have 
disobeyed thy commands and — strayed beyond the 
limits of my prison, and — and I have suffered for 
it.” 

“What dost thou mean, my prisoner, if that is 
what thou wouldst have me call thee?” queried the 
now interested father. 


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“This morning I tired of the boundaries thou 
hast set for me, and thinking it would be a pretty 
lark to do some wrong — thou knowest I always do 
right — 'I wandered alone — aye, wilfully and not 
in thoughtlessness! — to the woods yonder by the 
stream. Now ’tis out and I await my punishment.’’ 
Her eyes twinkled as she looked at him as if in 
great fear. 

“Ho! ho! vile and wicked woman! so thou hast 
done this thing, eh? Now by the gods I know not 

how to punish thee Kiss me this instant, as a 

partial serving of thy sentence.” 

Decia complied, then he continued : 

“I fear, however, that I cannot pass judgment. 
Thou Praetor Artus, open court!” 

“I am ready, Decius. First let us hear what 
punishment the prisoner has already undergone, for 
she said that she has already suffered for her dis- 
obedience.” 

“Aye, for I was frightened near to death!” said 
Decia, as she proceeded to tell in detail of her sur- 
prise and fright as she observed the awakening of 
Glaccus, of whose identity she was not aware. De- 
cius and Artus, however, smiled as they exchanged 
glances, and the senator winked to the tribune. 

“I fled as though a hundred furies were after 
me !” continued Decia, “yet thou has not heard all ! 
That strange man was mammoth in size, and had a 
big stick and surely did mean to injure some one 
with it!” 

“That, Artus, would be a case of a host kicking 
out his guest without ceremony,” laughed Decius. 
Then Decia correctly guessed the identity of the 
“strange man,” and she blushed, for it was at her 


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suggestion that Glaccus was brought to the rustica. 

“Look, Artus, look!” said Decius, “alas that 
blush! It doth indeed convince me that ‘my lamb’ 
is no longer a child. Too soon comes womanhood, 
— too soon thy father’s eyes behold Time’s con- 
quering legions, tearing thee from the embrace of 
love in which he fain would hold thee forever!” 

Decius sighed as he gazed at Decia, but she came 
to him and sat upon his knee, caressing him as only 
she of all the world knew how; patted his cheeks, 
pressed his lips between her fingers and proved in- 
deed that the great love he showered upon her did 
not go to waste, — as love so often does. 

Later in the evening Decius and Artus strolled to 
the rustica to see Glaccus. 

“Good Aegea,” said Decius, “thou dost look 
troubled. Does not Fortune wait upon the patient, 
or art thou tiring of our hospitality?” 

“I am worried; some strange or fancied vision 
hath had an ill effect on Glaccus!” 

She told of the finding of Glaccus in a faint, and 
of his tale that he had seen a “nymph.” Decius 
and Artus could not restrain their laughter, but the 
senator said that the nymph was evidently a crea- 
ture of dreams. 

“Methinks, good nurse,” said Artus, “ ’twould be 
most wise not to undeceive the youth, for common 
superstitions are useful when they augur good.” 

They entered the house. 

“Ha, Glaccus,” said Decius to the patient, “I 
heard of the miracle ! Thou hast seen a nymph and 
art alive! It is a most favourable omen.” 

The eyes of Glaccus sparkled as he replied. 


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‘‘But,” added Decius, “thou hast not paid homage 
to the tribune Artus here, who that morning in the 
wine-shop predicted thy victory, — and who like- 
wise rode in haste from Rome to save thy life.” 

“Pardon, noble tribune,” said Glaccus to Artus, 
“I would not appear ungrateful, when I make par- 
tial payment of my debt, perchance thou too wilt 
give me opportunity to serve thee upon some occa- 
sion.” 

“Thou canst best serve me, Glaccus, by forgetting 
thy trifling debt to me and by serving Decius unto 
the last drop of thy blood,” replied Artus. 

“These veins, tribune, would be opened for his 
asking!” 

“I believe thee, Glaccus,” said Artiis, “thy words 
suffice.” 

“Glaccus!” remarked Decius, “thou hast indeed 
received a full compliment from Artus. To few 
men would he say such words; forget them not!” 


CHAPTER XIII 


An elapse of several days found Glaccus again 
setting forth to take his accustomed exercise, which 
consisted of a walk to the little stream, there to rest 
upon the bank. It was during one of these hours 
that he had been so greatly startled by his glimpse 
of '‘the nymph” on the opposite shore. This beauti- 
ful spring morning he was in better spirits than at 
any time since the combat. The flowers were in 
bloom, and beautiful acanthus, Cyprus and other 
trees with their feathery inhabitants, and a Cam- 
panian blue sky overhead, all combined to awaken 
in the breast of the youth a love for life, a desire 
to penetrate further into its future and its mysteries, 
its pleasures and enchantments, with scarce a 
thought of its pains. He leaned on his staff as he 
walked and at times stopped to inhale deep breaths 
of the perfumed air, laden with odors of roses and 
violets that grew wildly about, and which seemed to 
invigorate him. His mind, however, had not as 
yet become clear, for thoughts come slowly after 
the strain of severe crises. 

He thought of his years of dragging through the 
gutters until he reached that height he thought would 
be the pinnacle of his ambitions, a victor in the 
arena! He had discovered, however, the futility of 
it all. 


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“No honourable combat on the field of battle but 
thrusts for sestertii to shower on a woman of vice!” 
he exclaimed. “By Pollux! only now can I realize 
it, by comparing Mecinia with the motherly nurse 
who tends me!” 

He arrived at the bank of the stream and leaned 
against a tree. He gazed at the opposite shore but 
was not rewarded by a sight of his “nymph.” He 
gave vent to a sigh of satisfaction, however, as he 
realized that his strength was steadily returning, 
although the process was all too slow to accord with 
his impetuous nature. He felt his now flabby mus- 
cles and thin limbs. 

“Alas !” he said, “where is my strength, where is 
the strength for which I strove so long?” 

Suddenly, above his head he heard the sounds of 
birds chirruping loudly as if in great excitement. 
He looked upward and beheld a nightingale flying 
about an upper limb of the tree in evident distress, 
— as though crying loudly to summon aid! He 
listened intently and heard the squeaks of birdlings. 
He then perceived that their frail nest had become 
loosened and was in fact in danger of falling. 

The mother-bird continued her series of chirrups 
signifying her pain and fright as she circled around 
and around the nest in her apprehension. 

“How can I help thee, little mother? Had I but 
the strength to climb, I would. Alas!” 

The cries of the poor nightingale, however, con- 
tinued to ring in his ears as he stood gazing help- 
lessly up into the branches. 

“Now, by Hercules! — ’tis meet that I should help, 
and if I can fetch but a little added strength, I’ll 
try.” 


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He grasped the lower limb and painfully drew 
himself upon it. Beads of perspiration stood out 
upon his forehead at the exertion, which was con- 
siderable for one in his weakened condition. Un- 
known to him, his wound had opened and a little 
stream of blood trickled down his back. He en- 
deavoured to lift himself to a higher branch and 
eventually was successful. Another would have 
relinquished the struggle, but Glaccus, as Largus at 
the barracks had remarked, ^‘if once started' in 
action, could not be restrained.’' He arrived at 
length at the branch whereon he found the nest of 
birdlings. The mother bird and her mate had kept 
up their continual chatter. He took from his waist 
the leather cord that loosely bound his siibucula or 
light sleeveless tunic, around the hips. Securely he 
tied the nest to the branch and began his downward 
journey. His strength, however, was fast desert- 
ing him. When he felt his feet touch the ground 
his head swam, his knees gave way beneath him and 
he fell against the trunk of the tree. The blood 
from his wound made a red stain on his loose gar- 
ment. The sun poured down upon him. Fortune, 
however, did not desert him in his extremity, for 
unknown to him there had been an eye witness of 
his chivalry; none other than ‘‘the nymph,” Decia, 
who once again, lured by curiosity, had returned to 
the spot of her first adventure. Brought up since 
childhood in the country, it was but natural that 
there had been developed within her soul that love 
for all dumb creatures with whom her life had for 
so long a period been intermingled. It was therefore 
that the heroic action of Glaccus appealed strongly 
to her and touched her heart. His identity was now 


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known to her and she reasoned, ‘'he could not be 
an evil man if he loved birds.” She could not 
control her delight as she saw him fasten the nest 
to the limb of the tree. As he began his downward 
journey, she held her breath, for she was aware that 
he was a sick man. As she saw his feet touch the 
ground, she started forward through the branches, 
and it was at that moment that Glaccus lost con- 
sciousness. He had obtained, however, one brief 
glimpse of her, and as he felt the earth slipping from 
under him, he believed that this time he had been 
summoned at the final call. Decia saw him fall, 
saw his face grow ghastly pale, ere he dropped to the 
ground. In her perplexity she knew not what to 
do. Her first thought was to summon slaves to his 
assistance, and then she remembered that if she did 
so, her father would learn that she had again, and 
wilfully this time, disobeyed him. Again, if she 
took matters in her own hands and crossed the 
bridge nearby to aid him, she would likewise be 
running tremendous risk of discovery. Her better 
nature conquered her, however, for she quickly sped 
across the bridge. As she drew near him, she saw 
the blood stain on his garment; but this was Glac- 
cus of whom she had heard so much, and she had 
no fear. She took the little jeweled knife she car- 
ried from its sheath and slit his garment at the 
rear of the shoulder. To the pure all things are 
pure and no thought of any possible immodesty in 
the act entered her mind. Then she took her white 
girdle from her waist and ran to the stream to wet 
it. Returning quickly, she gritted her teeth and 
bathed the wound! She repeated this action sev- 
eral times, and finally dashed water on his face. As 


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she saw consciousness returning to him, she quickly- 
fled the spot, crossing the bridge and running as 
though some dreadful ogre was in pursuit of her. 
The first sight that greeted the eyes of Glaccus as 
he gazed around, was the vision of ‘‘his nymph’’ 
hastening through the woods on the opposite shore. 
He noted that his garment had been rent! Upon 
closer examination he found that it was cut cleanly 
and not torn ! He realized that naught indeed but 
a keen knife could have done the trick. He likewise 
observed that his garment was wet, not alone with 
blood but with water. These facts, coupled with the 
sight of the fleeing Decia, astonished him, but he 
realized that the gods still smiled upon him indeed 
and that it was none other than “his nymph.” 
though “one of the flesh” who had succoured him 
in his distress. 

“O, my nymph,” he said, as he stretched forth his 
hand toward the opposite shore, “I thank thee!” 

Decia, peering through the branches and unob- 
served by Glaccus, did not know the meaning of his 
action, could not hear his words. She fled from her 
point of observation, and changed her garment which 
had become soiled. Her handmaids, from whom 
she had stolen unperceived, had been searching for 
her everywhere. 

Meanwhile Glaccus had started on his return to 
the rustica. He met Aegea on the way. She was 
surprised at his pale face and disordered appearance. 

“Glaccus, what means this condition?” 

Then she observed the blood stains on his gar- 
ment and that the wound had opened afresh. She 
looked into his eyes inquiringly. 

“Scold me not, good Aegea. I confess that I 


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have disobeyed thy orders, yet in a good cause. Do 
not tell Decius.’' 

He related to her the incident of the birds, omit- 
ting, however, the assistance that had been rendered 
him by ^‘the nymph/' When he lay within his 
room, Aegea observed that he had a high fever. 
She scolded him gently but praised him in her heart. 

When Decius called at the rustica that night she 
did not know how to break the news to him. Glac- 
cus was still in high fever. Indeed, she endeavoured 
to keep Decius from entering the room. He ob- 
served that something was wrong and said : 

“Come, Aegea, come! 'Tis not like thy usual self 
to thus hide things I” 

She was therefore compelled to tell Decius the 
story of the adventure of Glaccus. 

“Is the youth bereft of senses? I will scold him 
on the morrow. If thou needest ice or snow, send 
for it," said Decius. 

He returned to the atrium where he found Decia 
awaiting him. He told her of the kind action of 
Glaccus that morning! It gave her a strong prick 
of conscience, for this was the first time that she 
had ever deceived her father. 

Decius sat in the summer triclinium drinking a 
goblet of wine, his usual custom ere he retired for 
the night. He had lost whatever resentment he felt 
at the action and disobedience of Glaccus, for he 
said half aloud : “I am wrong. Rashness is the com- 
panion of youth and it doth not make him less a man 
because he hath a heart; for did not great Caesar 
weep at the ingratitude of Brutus more than at the 
pain of the severed veins?" 


CHAPTER XIV 


Several days elapsed before Glaccus had recov- 
ered. One morning, however, found him reclining 
on the bank of the stream where he had been be- 
friended by '‘his nymph.” 

He rested on the bank all morning until his rev- 
eries were interrupted by the arrival of Aegea, who 
said : 

“Hast thou forgotten all record of time? ’Tis long 
past the hour for thy nourishment. Come!” He 
clasped her hand in both of his and replied softly: 

“I would fare badly without thy constant watch- 
ing. Thee, too, must I thank for my returning 
strength ; not since the combat have I felt as well as 
I do this morn I” 

Aegea smiled with undisguised satisfaction at 
hearing his words, and together they walked to the 
rustica, where, in company with Machaon, they sat 
down to their midday meal. 

The following morning Glaccus returned to the 
bank of the stream. 

And Decia ! Alas, Decia ! A mysterious seed had 
been planted in her tender bosom. Decia, stealing 
away from her handmaids, attracted by some un- 
known force, leading her footsteps to the bank of 
the stream where she had observed Glaccus on the 
opposite shore ! Since his identity had become 
known to her, added curiosity had been awakened. 
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“My father denies my request to see him ; he said 
a gladiator is not fit company for the daughter of 
a patrician !” 

She walked slowly, meditating on this first great 
problem of her life, striving to convince herself of 
the righteousness of disobeying her father’s com- 
mand and deceiving him for the purpose of favour- 
ing her own desires. 

How, but that the patrician maiden should have 
been attracted by the plebian youth! She found 
herself at the bank, even before she was aware of 
it. Gently she thrust aside the bushes, peered 
through them and there beheld Glaccus sleeping 
peacefully on the opposite bank, a smile adorning 
his face, which betokened that some sweet influ- 
ence was present in his dreams, — and Decia was 
glad ! She softly crossed the bridge, took the chap- 
let of lilies from her golden hair, and placed it 
gently on the ground, resting it against his leg. 

“Thou art a hero,” she whispered, “for thou hast 
conquered weakness with the kindness of thy heart.” 

She quickly returned to the portico. That en- 
tire afternoon a mischievous smile lurked about 
her mouth. 

When Glaccus awoke he was startled, for the first 
thing that met his eyes was the wreath. 

“She crowns me for a deed that still remains to 
be done!” he murmured. 

The following morning he found himself at his 
accustomed place and fed the birds. Ere long, he 
chanced to glance across the stream and there saw 
the face of Decia peering through the bushes. Some 
rays of sunlight, penetrating the branches over- 
head, illumined her golden hair. Her white palla 


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vied with her complexion! Stolen waters are the 
sweetest, and her dark eyes shone from the excite- 
ment of her adventure. At sight of her, Glaccus 
sprang to his feet, and approached the bank, even 
to the edge. She, however, did not move. 

“Was it thou, sweet stranger, that did befriend 
me?” he asked. She did not reply, but cast her 
eyes downward. This was but little encourage- 
ment for Glaccus. O, youth, to what rash deeds, 
to what land of dreams, to what hopes, aims, ef- 
forts do thy years of inexperience lead thee 1 

“May I cross the stream to thank thee? Thou 
didst succour me when I was stricken yonder,” he 
said. 

She did not answer him — in words, but raised 
her eyes to his. He crossed the stream. So, too, 
was the invisible barrier that separates patrician 
from plebian, crossed! He approached her slow- 
ly; their eyes met and love’s mysterious current 
flowed through their souls. 

“I know not who or what thou art, but thoughts 
of thee have given me strength, and too, the great- 
est happiness I have ever known, — therefore, sweet 
maiden, thou canst well judge how high a value I 
place upon thy kindly action — that morn. More 
so then is this true when I realize how most un- 
worthy I am to feel those gentle touches of thy 
fingers — when thou didst bathe my wound!” 

Decia raised her hand to her bosom. She strove 
to speak, but speech was difficult. She, who had 
a dozen handmaids at her beck and call, she, the 
daughter of Decius, whose entire familia bowed 
down, as it were, at her very glance, now found 


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it a task indeed to speak to a plebian! At last 
Decia said softly : 

“Thou — thou didst save my birds — and — I am 
grateful.” 

Suddenly her face became diffused with rich 
colour. She bowed her head to him and turning 
slowly, walked quietly from the scene. After the 
lapse of some moments, so as not to appear for- 
ward, he followed a few steps and thrust aside the 
bushes through which she had passed. He was 
rewarded, for he saw her look backward and glance 
kindly at him. 

Glaccus recrossed the stream, and walked home- 
ward as one in a dream. 


CHAPTER XV 


Donatus was a widower! The late wife of the 
senator, who Donatus claimed had been of pa- 
trician stock, had, however, been brought by him 
to Rome. Since her death, many women had 
striven to gain the honour of succeeding her; thus 
far Donatus had not succumbed. Rumours of evil 
deeds and orgies held within his palace had spread 
throughout Rome, but carefully and craftily Do- 
natus guarded its secrets. 

It was not surprising that Mecinia was overawed 
by the wealth of his establishment. She looked 
upon the mighty Donatus as though he were a 
Caesar, and ere long almost hated him with all the 
venom of her soul, through envy of his posses- 
sions. She lived there in comfort, however, save 
for the one cry always ringing through her mind, 
'T want Glaccus.’' 

“Could I rule this Donatus, I would be forever 
great. Glaccus must then surrender and I would 
raise him with me. There is hope. Slowly but 
steadily my money increases.” 

Her heart fluttered wildly and her eyes took on 
an evil glitter at the thought of a possible sudden 
enrichment through this tool that had been placed 
within her hands. She performed her duties with 
a certain severity, and treated the advances of Do- 
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natus with a coldness with which she succeeded 
in whetting his appetite. She kept as much to the 
privacy of her own cubiculum as the discharge of 
her duties permitted, and bided her time for the 
completion of her plans. She wore none but the 
most subdued of garments, though she spent many 
hours studying the arts of personal adornment, and 
purchased from time to time those requisites for 
her toilet which might, at some future day, prove 
useful. She had not long to wait, for Donatus in 
his endeavours to draw her from her cold indiffer- 
ence to him, and without desiring to make her 
aware of his strong passion for her, tried a dozen 
different methods. One day he told her he had 
procured special permission for her to attend the 
amphitheatre in a choice seat. She paled at the 
thought of what she had lost through that fatal 
place — Glaccus, lying even now in slow convales- 
cence! She had succeeded in obtaining news of 
the youth unknown to any one within the house- 
hold. 

Donatus determined on another course of action, 
and said to her one day: 

“Good Fortunse, I am deeply indebted to thee for 
the able manner in which thou dost aid me to gov- 
ern my familia; I crave of thee a favour. Certain 
friends of mine whose influence is useful to me, 
have made comment upon the fact that thou, of 
whom I have spoken in glowing terms, hast never 
adorned one of my feasts. Wilt thou lend thy pres- 
ence to my triclinium on the third night hence? I 
would deny thee naught to show my gratitude, for 
well I know my request must jar thy quiet tastes.” 

“Lord,” said Mecinia coldly, “thou hast been 


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kind to me and I fear I cannot refuse thee — this 
once at least, — yet thou wilt offend me if thou 
speakest of payment.” 

As she withdrew he mused : 

“Can I but get that cold mollusk from her shell 
and stir her with excitement and Falernian wine, 
methinks her surrender will be no arduous task. 
She puzzles me sorely, for ne’er before have I met 
so strange a woman — nor one so beautiful!” 

As he thought of her life within his house, this 
friendless, quiet, beautiful woman, upon whose 
cheeks the roses of health had again left their red- 
dened imprint and whose large black eyes he longed 
to see illumined with that which he would call love 
for him, he clenched his hand and said : 

“Action, Donatus, action! Thy thoughts thus 
far have brought thee naught in this too long cam- 
paign.” 

He was one of those men who used people as 
one would employ chess upon the board; by ways 
and means mysterious, he moved the figures to win. 
It could therefore be considered as an assured fact 
that those who graced his festal board were such 
only who would perchance prove useful to him. 
He consequently spared no expense to make these 
occasions enjoyable to his guests. His object in 
desiring Mecinia to appear at his next banquet was 
therefore a two-fold one. 

The third night arrived, and Donatus, arrayed in 
myriads of rich jewels which he took pleasure in 
displaying, much to the envy of his guests, received 
his company. Among those invited were several 
senators and a general who had but recently re- 
turned from foreign service. Lucius, the philoso- 


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pher, was among those present. They were reclin- 
ing in the grand triclinium, on the three couches 
placed about the table. Lucius said : 

“None can question the generosity of Donatus, 
yet one thing I miss, and Aphrodite will not frown 
upon it — I sorely miss — come, canst thou guess it?” 

“Aye,” replied the host, “thy sensual eyes be- 
tray thee; thou wouldst have Circe or Aphrodite 
herself to share this festal board.” 

The guests laughed at the expense of Lucius and 
Donatus continued: 

“Patience, friends, patience. Who knows but 
that as we drink to Venus, the model of our beauty, 
yonder aulaeum may part and the goddess in person 
honor us with her divine presence!” 

He clapped his hands and slaves entered, carry- 
ing an immense tray upon which were silver goblets 
adorned in relief with figures of Venus and Bac- 
chus. Other slaves followed, drawing a small 
wagon, on which had been placed a large-sized keg 
covered with earth and cobwebs. An exclamation 
of surprise greeted this filthy product. 

“By the divine laughter of Bacchus!” said one, 
“what jest wilt thou now cloak us with, thou ever 
entertaining Donatus !” 

“Jest, sayest thou? Dost thou not know a poor 
cask oft holds good wine? It is a most expensive 
jest, I tell thee!” 

At a signal the cask was opened, and the goblets 
were filled. The contents proved to be Falernian 
wine of a very old and rare vintage. As the as- 
sembled guests tasted it an exclamation of delight 
came from each throat. 

“Nectar from the vineyard of Bacchus himself 1” 


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said Lucius, and Donatus, rising to his feet, poured 
the libation on the mosaic floor. 

“Let us drink then, to Bacchus and to Aphrodite, 
upon whose beauty the wine loving god doth gaze, 
like our friend here, with amorous glances.” 

As they raised the goblets to their lips Lucius 
sprang to his feet and said : 

“Look, Donatus, look, for, by all the divinities! 
here comes none other than divine Aphrodite her- 
self, or else ’tis Circe in all her splendor!” 

They cast their eyes toward the tablinium, where, 
standing at the entrance, the curtain having been 
partly drawn, they saw a woman of majestic figure 
and striking beauty. A chaplet of red roses en- 
twined her black hair which shone from the radi- 
ance of a thousand particles of golden powder that 
had been sprinkled on it. Her throat and bosom 
were bare save for a single red jewel that hung sus- 
pended by a thin chain encircling her throat. Over 
her snowy-white tunic were thrown the folds of a 
simple mantle which seemed to be composed of my- 
riads of silver scales that sent forth dazzling radi- 
ance at the slightest movement. She said : 

“Methinks, well meaning flatterer, that thou dost 
defame, by very comparison, the goddess whom 
thou dost claim to worship! I am but human and 
crave a place at the triclinium^ 

The entire company were startled and delighted, 
not to say fascinated, by the opportune appearance 
of Mecinia. None replied to her words, but Donatus 
approached her with a look of adoration on his evil 
face. He took her hand, and bowing, led her to 
an empty couch at the table. 

“By Venus herself! I vow, Donatus,” said the 


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general, “that, although I have visited many lands, 
ne’er before have I seen so beautiful a reflection of 
Venus as she who now graces thy feast!” 

He gazed piercingly at Mecinia. 

“Friends, allow me to introduce to thee, none 
other than Fortunse, who rules my familia for me. 
She hath no relation to me save that she chooseth 
to call me ‘lord,’ and persists in taking service in 
this house which she could rule as Domina, did she 
but desire it — with me as an added slave to the great 
number I possess.” 

“Cease, I beg of thee, illustrious Donatus!” said 
Mecinia, “I did but assume this garb in a frolic, 
and if thou dost tease me I will quickly change it 
for my usual dark habiliment.” 

She laughed, displaying beautiful white teeth be- 
hind lips of reddest coral, but refused to drink the 
goblet of wine that had been handed to her by 
Donatus, whose face consequently became serious 
in its expression. 

“ ’Tis easy to perceive, O Fortunse, and thou hast 
been rightly named,” said Lucius, “and that thou 
dost not worship at the shrine of Bacchus I” 

Her appearance on the scene, however, did not 
serve to increase the jollity of the occasion; on the 
contrary it appeared as though some “goddess” had 
suddenly come to subject them. Even Donatus, 
known as one of the most talkative of hosts, was 
quiet to an unusual degree. Lucius strove to save 
the day, or night rather, and rising to his feet pro- 
posed a toast to her who had given to them that 
added enjoyment which could not be gained when 
beauty was absent. He raised his goblet on high 
and said : 


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'To thee, beautiful Fortunge, we drink. Truly 
thou dost honor Fortune! In thee we behold the 
combination of the graces. Our thanks for thy pres- 
ence.” 

Mecinia, however, said : 

"No, no, the jest has proceeded sufficiently. Good 
Donatus, tell thy friends my real station. They 
embarrass me with their flatteries.” 

Donatus had drunk copious goblets of wine, which 
contributed in no small measure to the heating of 
his blood and the increase of his enthusiasm at 
her advent, and he replied : 

"Hear me, friends, Fortunae would have me speak 
of her real station. It is as I have said, yet she 
denies me even a single kiss. For that I blame her 
not, for I am not as young — as I was, — yet I tell 
ye, one and all, Fortunae can own me, body, soul 
and all my wealth, by Jupiter himself, I vow it!” 

He gazed at her in open admiration. It was the 
first and only occasion upon which, with proper sur- 
roundings, he could tell her of his love for her, — 
could proclaim that love before the world and thus 
convince Mecinia of his sincerity. 

The latter, still playing her game, returned his 
glances with a meaning that could not be misinter- 
preted, and her unspoken reply was heard, so to 
speak, by Donatus, who, ere the guests arose to 
depart, said : 

"I vow by Jupiter himself, O, Fortunae, none 
would count thy wishes as aught but commands !” 


CHAPTER XVI 


Affairs with Artus had suffered no change, and 
he busied himself with matters pertaining to his 
candidacy for the praetorship. Eurycele continued 
to love him with a fidelity that earned for Artus 
the envy of men, and for his mistress the jeers of 
women. Many of the latter did not hesitate to 
characterize her worship of her lover as “injurious 
in principle, tending to spoil the men by such ex- 
ample.’' She became known as a “one-man woman,” 
and lived for the present only, — for the day, the 
hour, the minute and each thought and action of 
her life revolved about Artus. At times when she 
found him preoccupied, jealousy would tear her 
heart. She had heard whispers that Artus was in 
love with the daughter of Decius. At first she 
laughed. Rome was full of rumours regarding men 
and women, for the growth of her jealousy was 
restrained by the kindness of Artus. 

Decius was a frequent visitor at the home of Artus 
in the Janiculum. The senator had earned her high- 
est esteem, by the solidity of his character which 
was so consistent with his strong and heavy frame. 
She attributed the frequent visits of Artus to the 
villa of Decius, only to the friendship of these two 
men. One day, however, while at the baths, she 
overheard two women conversing. Though un- 
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known to her, they were evidently acquainted with 
Decius and conversant with details of his life. One 
of them said : 

“I am surprised that the senator Decius doth not 
marry again. Ah me, he is a man quite ^fter mine 
own fancy, — and too, he is more than comfortably 
rich.’^ 

* Waste not thy thoughts on him,” replied her 
companion, “he is so enwrapped in his child that 
some say he worships her in place of the gods.” 

“That may be true, — ^but when his daughter mar- 
ries and leaves him to a lonely old age — what then?” 

“They say that she is beautiful, yet Decius keeps 
her from all men, — indeed, makes her reside at his 
villa so as to be away from Rome !” 

“Ha, is not the Tribune Artus then a man?” 

“Dost thou mean he who hath the constant Eury- 
cele to spoil him?” 

“Aye, none other. Listen now to this. ’Tis 
whispered, — and loudly too, — that Decius is saving 
his daughter to be the wife of Artus who is a can- 
didate for a praetorship. Decius, as thou knowest, 
stands in highest favor with the Caesar, with Taurus, 
— in fact with every one, and is spending money 
liberally to bring about the election of his friend. 
Thou knowest that every wish of Augustus is law 
to the patres conscripti, the comitia, and every one 
besides.” 

Eurycele staggered to a bench, pale as the white 
marble against which she leaned. It was as though 
the darkness of Hades had enveloped her soul. When 
she recovered her self-control, she ordered her lecti- 
carii to hastily bear her homewards in her litter, and 
there she let loose a flood of tears. 


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“How much of this is true?” she questioned her- 
self. She felt powerless to act, but resolved to en- 
deavor to discover the truth regarding the aims and 
purposes of Artus, resolved to question Decius at 
her first opportunity. Fortune aided her, for the 
senator arrived that afternoon, and when they were 
seated in the peristyle she said to Artus: 

“My lord, I heard this day that noble Decius wor- 
ships his child. I doubt not that she well deserves 
it, being so splendidly fathered.” 

“Aye, Eurycele,” said Decius, “yet thou dost 
make me blush by attributing her perfection to me. 
It was the mother, — may the gods fore’er protect 
her sweet soul ! — that left me as a legacy those won- 
derful virtues mirrored in her daughter, my Decia.” 

“What then wilt thou do, O Decius, when some 
man comes to take her from thee as his lawful wife, 
— that is, if thou dost think there is a man quite 
good enough to be her husband?” 

And Decius replied sadly: 

“I cannot bear even to think upon it. Perchance 
he will give me a place in his familia so that I may 
be near her! — Else I vow I must seek active service 
in some distant province to help me bear my loss.” 

“Then thou dost believe there is a man to whom 
thou couldst safely entrust thy most prized posses- 
sion ?” 

“Aye, there should be one in all Rome.” 

“Do I know him, good Decius, for if not, I would 
indeed give much to see a man who can hold such 
great opinion from thee.” 

“Most honestly, Eurycele, I do say that thou dost 
not know him, for it would require years of search 
through all the provinces to find him!” 


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‘Truly thou art most particular to have thy daugh- 
ter well husbanded and in this again, hast thou risen 
even higher in my esteem, O senator. Artus can 
bear me witness that I do place thee on a certain 
pedestal.'' 

“Aye, Decius, my Eurycele would arouse the 
jealousy of any other man save me, for the place 
thou boldest in her heart and mind," said Artus. 

Decius smiled with satisfaction as he said : 

“I thank thee roundly, Eurycele, and hope to re- 
tain thy great opinion forever, for I tell thee that 
most Romans would call me weak if they knew 
more of my father-love." 

Ere many minutes had elapsed Eurycele said : 

“I will retire, Artus. My bath this day did sorely 
tire me." She kissed him and rewarded Decius 
likewise, to the great astonishment of the senator, 
whose face reddened. 

“That was for thy great father-qualities, noble 
Decius, and my Artus here, and all Rome knows, my 
lips are sacred to his touch alone. Perchance 'tis 
therefore he doth sometimes tire of me!" 

She walked slowly from the triclinium as Decius 
said: 

“May Morpheus grant thee dreams as beautiful 
as thyself." 

For some time afterwards both men sat in silence, 
each buried in his own thoughts. 

“Artus," said Decius, “thou hast the best and 
truest mistress in all Rome. Alas, for thee, and me, 
and — and — my lamb. How can a man dispense jus- 
tice in so terrible a dilemma!" 

“Eurycele is my blessing," said Artus, “and too, 
my curse, — and thou knowest how most properly I 


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value her. Again I tell thee, Decius, I must kill 
the love thy daughter bears for me, and reasons for 
it multiply with the passing of each hour.” 

When Eurycele reached her cubiculum she dis- 
missed her handmaids. 

‘‘Gods, thy bolt has struck! I am lost!” she 
moaned, for she realized that Decius had selected 
Artus to be the husband of his daughter. The words 
of the senator rang through her ears : 

“It would require years of search through all 
the provinces to find him !” 

The fact of the many years of friendship of these 
two men was indeed known to her. In her heart 
she realized that Decius’s estimate of the qualities 
of Artus was correct. 

“To me he is a god!” she cried, but when she 
recovered her composure she reasoned that she 
would not surrender without a struggle. 

“By the two Goddesses! The combat lies twixt 
Decius and myself!” she said. “Alas! how weak I 
am, against such a force, — and I, — and I the thief 
of his daughter’s happiness!” 


CHAPTER XVII 


Glaccus did not tell Aegea of his meeting with 
‘‘his nymph.” That was his secret, and he guarded 
it as his most prized possession. The few words 
spoken by Decia rang in his ears. 

“Thou didst save my birds and I am grateful.” 
He repeated them a hundred times, and the re- 
membrance of the sweet tones, the maidenly mod- 
esty which characterized them, and the heaving of 
her bosom were things upon which he had lived 
since then. 

“My birds! Ah, then she is the child of a 
slave — the slave who cares for the birds here!” 

The thought that she was the daughter of the 
senator, Decius,. never for a moment entered his 
mind. Remembrance of this maiden brought to his 
mind's eye a vista of some little outhouse on the 
grounds. He pictured a plain interior and the oc- 
cupants, perchance an old father and mother, cap- 
tured in the wars. Again he speculated that per- 
haps she was an orphan. 

He did not eat that entire day or do aught but 
sit and dream — and hope — O, priceless hope ! — that 
he would see her again. 

Aegea was perplexed and worried. 

“What ails thee, Glaccus,” she questioned ; “thou 

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hast not eaten this day ! Have patience and fret not, 
for ere long thou wilt be again in action; thy 
wound heals speedily.” 

“Good Aegea, I do not question the wisdom of 
the gods in keeping me inactive during this long 
period, yet I would I were able to start this mo- 
ment on the mission for my patron Decius.” 

His thoughtless speech pained Aegea, who said: 

“And art thou so soon tiring of my poor com- 
panionship ?” 

“Alas!” said Glaccus; “now I have hurt thee. 
Decius says I owe my life to thee, though I do not 
need his words to tell me. The net and trident are 
not a very profitable business for me. Yet didst 
thou know more, thou wouldst not condemn me — 
and, too, I am through with it forever!” 

“None condemn thee, Glaccus, and I less than 
any, for I know thee. Thy courage in thy pain, 
thy gentle speech, thy appreciation, and, too, thy 
noble action — though ill-timed, indeed ! — when 
thou didst save the nest of birdlings! — all these, 
little as they seem, do indicate nobility in thy soul. 
Truly the gods owe thee better times !” 

“Dost thou think thus, Aegea?” he asked eagerly. 

“Aye, Glaccus. Let me be thy oracle and say 
that thou wilt be happy in thy life-journey.” 

When Glaccus closed his eyes in slumber he 
dreamed that “his nymph” sat beside him and 
pressed her hand upon his heart saying: 

“All else is Rome's, save this, — thy heart — which 
belongs to me!” He awoke to find Decius stand- 
ing beside his couch. 

“A greeting to thee, Glaccus! Mars encourages 
those who do not abuse him. Soon thou wilt be in 


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shape to serve me for thine own advancement — 
and too, for the happiness of one I love.” 

*'l pray the gods each day, illustrious patron, that 
thou wilt soon say I am well enough to go.” 

‘Tatience, Glaccus, patience. Rest, and gain 
more strength. Artus will come this night to see 
thee.” 

The senator returned to his atrium, where Decia 
sat patiently awaiting him. 

‘‘Father,” she said, softly, “if perchance I should 
deceive thee ever, wouldst thou forgive me — and — 
not love me less?” 

“What sayest thou? ‘Would I forgive thee and 
not love thee less?’ Now, by Jupiter! I’ll not for- 
give thy cruel words as soon as I would the ac- 
tions their import suggests. Come here to me and 
beg forgiveness for thy unwelcome thrust. Why, 
I would but love thee more, no matter what the 
crime. Let Rome, and the great Augustus, and the 
very gods, — ^may they forgive me for my honest 
words, — let each and every one of them chide, con- 
vict, condemn, yet would thy father hurl defiance 
and say, Decia is perfection, and each wrong she 
commits changes that wrong into a right. Well I 
know these words sound un-Roman, — ^yet, stay, — 
what prompts thy question?” 

Decia threw her arms about him in a paroxysm 
of tears. 

“By Pollux! tears, my lamb? Does my love for 
thee fetch tears? But, no! Thy mother’s spirit 
has been with me throughout the day, — nor could 
she pass thee by!” 

Decia resolved that nevermore would she be- 
stow a single thought of love upon any other man. 


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109 


The stars had appeared when, together, they 
walked to the white marble mausoleum situated at 
the far corner of the grounds and facing the Appian 
Way. It contained the ashes of the beloved wife 
and mother. Decius had erected this tomb there to 
enable him to see it each time he journeyed to and 
from Rome. 

Father and daughter read for the thousandth 
time these words: 

PEACE. 

THIS GRIEF WILL ALWAYS WEIGH UPON 
ME: MAY IT BE GRANTED ME TO BE- 
HOLD IN SLEEP THY REVERED COUN- 
TENANCE. MY WIFE, AURELIA, ALWAYS 
CHASTE, MODEST AND BEAUTIFUL, I 
GRIEVE, DEPRIVED OF THEE. 

LIE IN PEACE. 

MARCUS DECIUS, HER HUSBAND, RAISED 
THIS TO HIS BELOVED WIFE. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


His desires accomplished by the surrender of 
Mecinia, Donatus was raised to heights of joy. 
Nothing desired by his new favourite was denied 
her and she ruled him by the knowledge of the 
weaknesses of his character, which perhaps were 
nowhere better exemplified than by his passion for 
her. 

He said to her one night: 

“Fortunse, methinks thou hast some most sore 
grievance ’gainst the world. If my words ring 
true, thou canst summon all the legions of my 
power and wealth to win thy campaign.” 

‘‘Donatus,” she replied ; “truly thou hast won my 
heart with the greatness of thy soul, and I doubt 
not that thou wouldst not hold back even though a 
human life was my desire.” 

Donatus flushed with pleasure as he said : 

“My Fortunae, thou art a goddess after mine 
own fancy and one who truly weighs me!” 

That night in the privacy of her cubkulum the 
calculating Mecinia mused: 

“I have made a bargain that will purchase me 
my happiness.” 

The days passed and the crafty senator was as 
a man re-born. He spent many hours in the com- 
pany of his new favourite, showered her with gifts, 
and invited many friends to meet her. Bedecked 
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in all her radiance, the very colour of her hair 
changed by golden powder, animated by the mag- 
nitude of her new power and hopes for the future, 
none who had chanced to visit the wine-shop of 
Largus in the past, recognized in Fortunse, the 
former wine-maid, Mecinia, favourite of the glad- 
iators. She led the life of a wealthy Roman lady, 
and one day at the baths, made the acquaintance 
of Eurycele. Ere long a friendship was formed 
between the two. The heart of Mecinia bounded 
with joy as she realized that the mistress of Artus 
would be another source of news regarding the 
villa of Decius and its occupants. This could prove 
of priceless value as an aid to her plans for the fu- 
ture, nor was it surprising that ere long, urged on 
by the assumed gentleness of Mecinia, the now 
saddened Eurycele unbosomed herself to her new 
friend regarding her fears of the possible loss of 
Artus. 

‘Truly, Eurycele,’' commented Mecinia, one day, 
“methinks thy constancy tires him at times. If I 
were in thy place, I would adopt other tactics when 
I saw the campaign going thus against me. It is a 
foul shame that women of our beauty and good 
qualities should suffer because some half-grown, 
virtuous child attracts these fools of men! Ecastor! 
I’ll hold my Donatus against a hundred such, even 
though I must needs resort to measures that would 
rouse his jealousy to a tempest! Thus only canst 
thou hold men!” 

“Dost thou think thus, O Fortunse?” 

“Thus, indeed, I think, — and more. I vow by 
Venus! who had her troubles with Mars and all 
the rest of them!” replied the scheming Mecinia. 


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“Canst thou advise me further, good Fortunoe? 
Truly, I would die without my Artus,’' said Eury- 
cele, a tremor in her voice. 

“Fll think upon it for thee,” was Fortunse’s re- 
ply, as she kissed the Greek and hastened home- 
ward, not alone to welcome Donatus, but to receive 
reports from spies she had hired for the purpose 
of watching the villa of Decius. 

Eurycele, seated in the atrium of the house of 
Artus, was deeply engrossed in thought inspired 
by her treacherous new friend. 

‘Terchance Fortunse is wise in this, although 
she doth advise inconstancy! Yet, I vow by great 
Zeus! that no other chin save that of Artus will 
pillow on this bosom.” 

Mecinia, reclining in her litter, mused with a 
smile of satisfaction. 

‘The pretty Graecule will serve me well! I’ll 
send to her a generous gift this night to stronger 
bind our friendship.” 

When Mecinia arrived at the house of Donatus, 
she found a man awaiting her in the guise of a 
peddler with jewelry for sale. 

“Yes, I do need some things,” she said to him; 
“come into the peristyle, where it is cooler, and I 
will see thy wares.” 

When she was alone with him, she examined a 
ring, to allay the suspicion of any inmate of the 
household who should perchance be spying upon 
her. 

“What is thy news?” she asked, quickly. 

“The youth is convalescing speedily, and hath a 
new employment for his leisure hours. I crawled 
into the grounds this morn, closely following the 


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113 


stream that runs through them. By Pollux ! I 
risked my precious life thereby, to serve thee! 
There upon the bank I saw the youth kneeling in 
worship of love before a maiden. She had golden 
hair and showed such attributes of wealth that I 
do believe she was none other than the daughter 
of the senator Decius!” 

Mecinia sprang to her feet with a cry, which 
caused her handmaids to run to her. She realized 
her fault, and quickly recovering, said in a loud 
voice : 

‘‘No, robber! thy prices are excessive! I would 
not purchase thy wares at the price of a rotten nut! 
— yet, wait, Pll take this amulet, — and only be- 
cause I so sorely need it.” 

She handed him a purse, which, however, con- 
tained enough gold to buy a dozen such ornaments, 
and turning to her handmaids, said: 

“Away, away, I did not call ye!” They retired 
in confusion. 

“Tell me more,” said Mecinia. 

“That is all I know. I will have more news for 
thee on the morrow.” 

Shouldering his package, he departed. 

Mecinia hurried to her cubiculum in a tremble of 
excitement. 

“Now, by the gods, is it possible that this child 
whom Eurycele fears, will likewise prove a danger- 
ous enemy to rob me of my Glaccus?” 

When Donatus returned late in the afternoon, 
he wore a look which betokened disappointment. 

“Greeting to thee,” said Mecinia to him; “and 
say, is my love of no sufficient power to chase thy 
frowns ?” 


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Donatus embraced her and replied : 

'‘Truly Fortunse, thy love is my very life, yet 
hear me, I am in most sore temper. One, Decius in 
the senate, did this day destroy my fondest hopes 
to gain added wealth; he blocked a certain meas- 
ure I fostered. May he rot in the infernal realms 
of Cerebus and Hecate, for I would have gained 
it were it not for his ill-timed interference I” 

“And wouldst thou combat tongue with tongue, 
too, gentle Donatus, — thou, who art so clever in 
action? Remove him.” 

“Aye, Fortunae, that I would, indeed, but how? 
He holds great favour with Taurus — and even 
the absent Augustus, and, therefore, with the servile 
senate.” 

“Tell me more, and I’ll think upon it for thee, 
Donatus, and advise thee how thou canst strike him 
with his own created weapons,” said Mecinia. 

“O, my Fortunae,” said Donatus, as he rubbed 
his hands together, “hadst thou but been with me 
through my past life to advise me!” 

Mecinia smiled as she realized that another 
weapon had been placed in her hands to aid her. 


CHAPTER XIX 


“A greeting to Artus!” said Decius, when the 
former arrived at the villa. ‘T was telling my 
lamb that I have news for thee.” 

“News for me, Decius?” 

“Well, Artus, thou canst judge for thyself. I 
heard to-day from the lips of Taurus himself that 
thy candidacy for the praetorship will be received 
with most popular favour, and, as he told me this, 
he smiled knowingly, as though to say: Tt is al- 
ready thine, Decius,’ and, like a fool that I am, I 
straightway blurted out my thanks, aye, like a 
rough quarryman from the hills, when he receives 
his cooked beans. Then Taurus laughed and added, 
‘By Pollux! Decius, thou art becoming a reader of 
minds !’ No more was said upon it ; therefore, get 
proper praetextae of candidacy for the magistracy.” 

The countenance of Artus became illumined with 
joy, and he said : 

“Decius, thou dost ever think of others before 
thyself. Is not this true, Decia?” 

“Praetor Artus,” she replied, “there is no daugh- 
ter of Rome who has so great a father.” 

They walked along the pathway lined on both 
sides with pines, oaks and myrtles, with many 
statues set in between. When they reached the 
portico, Decius said: 

“Await us here, Decia, we will visit the rustica/' 

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Together they walked toward the rustica, and 
found Aegea sitting on the marble bench, half way 
to the bridge, where it was her custom to await 
Decius each evening. 

‘'Greeting to Aegea! How fares Glaccus?” said 
Decius. 

‘T am sorely puzzled again,” replied the nurse. 

Decius gave vent to a grunt, and said: 

“Methinks thou hast spoiled the child, good 
Aegea.” 

“The wound heals well, but he did not eat a 
morsel of food this day. He sat and dreamed. 
Such action begets no strength.” 

“Strange!” said Decius; “ah, — but I have here 
a good physician, Artus, who shall do the business 
for us!” 

Artus smiled and they walked to the room, 
where they found Glaccus, pale and buried in 
thought. 

“Awake, sleepy head,” said Decius, “what ails thy 
appetite — and, too, thy mind? Hast thou no eyes 
to see thy patrons?” 

Glaccus sprang to his feet and began stammering 
his excuses. 

“Cease, — but tell us the nature of thy new ail- 
ment.” 

“Domine, ’tis naught that is serious, yet this day 
I lost my appetite. I feel, however, in most excel- 
lent condition.” 

“Truly, most excellent condition, — yet I would 
not send thee out to fight the Parthians!” 

Glaccus remained silent and Artus gazed pierc- 
ingly at him. 

“Strip, Glaccus,” he said, “I will examine thee.” 


asi tfte ©oD0 Decree 


117 


Artus peered closely at the wound and bowed his 
head with satisfaction. He felt the biceps and 
thighs of the youth. 

“Glaccus,” he said, ^'why didst thou not eat this 
day ? Art thou becoming Epicurean in thy tastes 

‘‘That is not so,” replied Glaccus, “for I need but 
suggest that which I want and good Aegea brings it 
ere I am through speaking. I sorely tire, however, 
of this inaction. Thou knowest, tribune, that the 
barracks differ from the villas.” 

“And action thou dost indeed sorely need,” said 
Artus, who turned to Decius and remarked : 

“Truly, a man becomes flabby when he hath no 
exercise ! I see nothing, however, that should prove 
permanent in the sickness of this youth. Indeed, 
he makes rapid progress.” 

Then turning to Glaccus, he said : 

“Remember, Glaccus, that the gods give naught 
to man without demanding payment; therefore, re- 
alize that if thou wouldst move onward in this life, 
thou wilt have to pay the price — of inactivity for 
awhile, — and aid time with patience.” 

As Decius and Artus returned to the portico, the 
latter said: 

“There is something in the wind, Decius ! Ques- 
tion Aegea closely, for it is passing strange that the 
youth should change as thou sayest since yester- 
night. Thou knowest that the ‘good and gentle 
Aegea' as thou termest her, is in truth, — a woman, 
— and too, a widow ! Canst thou see the point ? I 
make no accusation, I merely suggest possibilities.” 

Decius replied: “No, Artus, no, — ’tis not a just 
suggestion; thou dost not know Aegea as well as 

ir 


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“Perhaps not,” responded Artus with a laugh, 
“ ‘Thou too, Brutus ?’ — and now methinks, Decius, 
that the widow is indeed dangerous ! Will it chance 
to pass that thou and Glaccus will ere long be 
rivals ?” 

Decius did not laugh, but said : 

“By the gods, thou art becoming a greater cynic 
day by day!” 

“Be not angry with me, Decius, I did but jest, — 
yet follow my advice, and question Aegea; let me 
add that I have seen her gazing at the youth in a 
manner that did not fit the robe of nurse !” 

“Aye, ’tis possible that she has become fond of 
him,” said Decius, “for this Glaccus appears to be 
a good youth, but as for that which thou dost sug- 
gest, — no, thou wrongest her.” 

“I hope that I do, yet I repeat, question her, 
Decius,” said Artus as he smiled. He then changed 
the subject of conversation. 

Soon they arrived at the portico where they found 
Decia frowning. 

“Chase those lines,” said Decius. “Didst thou 
see that frown, Artus? Truly affairs upon my villa 
become complex when my lamb frowns ? Come here 
this instant, thou rebellious one!” 

She arose and said : “Thou didst tarry long !” 

“Now, Artus, didst thou hear that? A most en- 
veloping wife would Decia make! She keeps close 
watch upon her father; how then dost thou think 
would it be with a husband ?” 

Artus laughed as he said : 

“The husband will be the most fortunate of Ro- 
mans,” and then he whispered in the ear of Decius, 


tfte (goPg Decree 119 

“whose wives, as thou knowest, act the very oppo- 
site to this!” 

Decius laughed hilariously, and Decia said : 

‘‘Now that was not kind I Didst neglect me that 
moment and I am angry, Praetor Artus.” 

Like a spoiled child she walked away and joined 
her handmaidens, and Artus and Decius laughed. 

“Dost thou but use thy power of office as ably 
as thou didst wield the sword, I vow I will make 
the princeps pay me for my judgment in placing 
thee ! I will await thy edicts for the year with most 
impatient interest,” said the latter. 

“Augustus aims, Decius,” continued Artus, “at 
legislation of such character I understand, that it 
will raise the tone of domestic morality and give 
increase of fruitful marriages. In this, he is noble, 
yet methinks the task, viewed from the standpoint 
of existing conditions, is one that would require 
centuries of ancient virtues to consummate I” 

The hour being the beginning of the second vigil, 
Decia retired. As she bade them both good night, 
she gazed long and intently at Artus. It seemed that 
over night he had risen far above her. She looked 
upon him as a man of coming power, — indeed, just 
such a man as her own father had become. She 
reasoned that she must ever be a child to the praetor. 
She did not deny that in her heart she bore great 
affection for him, yet in the coming of womanhood 
she delved deeper into her soul and likewise thought 
of the other relations that would exist if she became 
the wife of Artus. She now drew comparisons be- 
tween Glaccus, whom she had seen that morning at 
the stream, and the “praetor.” The youth was 


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young and knelt to her! Yet when she was with 
Artus she felt as though it were her place to kneel 
to him! She grew serious at the idea of passing 
through the years as “naught else than a slave to a 
man’s greatness !” Her father was — her father ! He 
could take her in his arms as though she were a 
baby. She was his daughter, flesh of his flesh. Yet 
it is not thus with a husband who requires other 
things. The voice of Glaccus at the stream was soft 
and gentle, almost a whisper. She compared it with 
the stern and oftimes harsh and cutting voice of 
Artus, and too, for the first time in her life, she noted 
that scars were no additions to manly beauty. 

“When I become a matron with children, my hus- 
band, if he is Artus, will be an aged man! Alas! 
that would not be fitting! Had I a husband of an 
age nearer to mine own, we would journey down 
the road of life together and perchance Fd never be 
a weeping widow!” 

Her thoughts reverted to Glaccus. 

“Oh, how foolish I am to think upon it, — yet 
Felicia talks these things the most entire day, and 
but yesternight said that I am now a woman, and 
furthermore that she knew Artus loved me as a man 
should love his wife, and that he comes to court me, 
under guise of friendship for my father! If this 
were true, it would be base deceit. O, Felicia talks 
too much — and makes me think ; and too, did I not 
vow Fd never give my love to another man save my 
father, who tarries here in Rome, I know, so that 
he can be with me, when otherwise he could be a 
legatus and rule one of the great provinces !” 

That night her dreams were troubled, and once 


ag tfte <goog Peace 121 

when she awoke she found Decius bending over her 
couch. 

“My lamb, what ails thee? I thought I heard 
thee scream!” 

“Oh, father,” replied Decia, “I had a most fearful 
dream, I dreamed '” 

“Now Decia, I told thee that thou dost eat too 
much sweetmeats. I’ll cut thy rations there.” He 
then returned to his cubkulum, which adjoined hers. 


CHAPTER XX 


The day following that on which Mecinia’s spy 
had visited her in the disguise of a jewelry peddler, 
found the former wine-maid in a thoughtful mood. 
She had received the news of Glaccus’s doings at the 
villa of Decius, with keen disappointment, for the 
spy had no need to paint Decia’s charms in glowing 
colors. Mecinia had seen her and realized that the 
little rival would prove a powerful one. That Decia 
must be a girl of extraordinary qualities could not 
be disputed, especially in view of the fact that she 
was able to win the love of a man of such character 
as that of Artus whose advancement in the service 
of Rome was made known to Mecinia through Eu- 
rycele. As the former sat at coena with Donatus, 
she said to him, 

‘‘How are thy affairs progressing in the senate?” 

“By Pollux! Did I not tell thee, Fortunae, that 
the meddling Decius blocks me at every turn ? 
Things are worse — far worse, that I supposed. It 
has cost me a round sum of profit.” 

He ground his teeth in rage and Mecinia said : 

“Cease, Donatus; thou dost surprise me, thou, to 
thus accept defeat, ere the campaign is over I” 

“And thou, Fortunse,” he replied, “speakest of 
things of which thou knowest but little. He is 
stronger by far than I in the senate, for all know 
that Augustus and Taurus favour him,” 

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“But I speak not of the senate/’ she replied, “I 
say that thou shouldst take some other field for bat- 
tle where thy legions can strike to better advantage. 
Fight him, I say, with weapons that will make his 
efforts against thee powerless ; strike, not with votes, 
but at the heart, for there thou knowest is the seat 
of power. Thou dost need no further proof than 
this, that I am here beside thee. Strike Decius at 
the heart, I say ! Thus canst thou make him power- 
less!” 

“I doubt not that thou art wise, Fortunse, yet I 
understand thee not. Speak further.” 

“Listen,” continued Mecinia, “didst thou have 
Decius slain with a dagger, thou wouldst immediate- 
ly attract suspicion toward thyself, and too, there 
is always chance of betrayal. Again, didst thou 
strike Decius thou wouldst leave behind his strong 
limb, none other than the discerning Artus, of whose 
coming elevation to new office thou knowest ; then 
thou wouldst be in greater danger than before. 
Therefore, if thou didst kill Decius, the soul of 
Artus would be compelled to follow his, but double 
crimes lead to double danger of discovery. Hear 
me, Donatus, for I have another plan to win thy 
battle for thee.” 

She watched him closely as she continued : 

“This plan of mine is a double-pointed weapon, 
for it strikes both thy enemies simultaneously. Artus 
loves the daughter of Decius. It is an open secret in 
Rome. This wifeless Decius worships his child. 
Therefore I say if thou wouldst strike both Decius 
and Artus, take from them their most prized pos- 
session — this maiden. Thus wilt thou whiten two 
walls from the same lime-pot.” She ceased speaking 


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and looked into the eyes of Donatus to discover the 
effect of her words. He leaned forward on his 
elbow and whispered : 

‘'Dost thou mean slay her ?” 

"In that thou canst please thy fancy ; it doth suf- 
fice if thou dost take her from them and thus engage 
their minds in such a manner that they can think or 
dream of nothing save the missing virgin.'’ 

Donatus arose to his feet, his eyes sparkling in 
the excitement of the thought. He then turned and 
gazed admiringly at Mecinia and said : 

"Truly, Fortunse, thy mind is wonderful! It 
doth appear to me that by no other means could I 
strike such deadly havoc. I’ll think upon it. Stick 
thou close to me and, by Jupiter! I will raise thee 
high in this life !” 

That night he paced his apartment for hours, 
scheming and planning to bring about a result which 
must be accomplished without attracting suspicion to 
himself. He thanked the gods, however, for send- 
ing Fortunae to aid him. 

The following morning Mecinia questioned him 
as to his decision in the matter and he said to her : 

"Decius blocks me at every turn. The peril will 
be greater if Artus becomes praetor, for that will 
give him certain power in the senate.” 

"If that is true, perchance it would be well to 
use another weapon, Donatus. Carry weapons in 
both hands. That is good advice, for if thou dost 
lose one, thou hast the other. Thou didst say that 
thy spies overheard Artus’s confession to Decius as 
to a long lost son; likewise that Artus has on sev- 
eral occasions made inquiry for him. Why not give 


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the tribune a son of thine own choosing? Thus 
couldst thou place a spy within his very breast!^’ 

In his evil nature Donatus was speechless with 
admiration of the power of mind of his favourite. 

“A double thrust in the arena, my Donatus, has 
oft won victory. Strike the deadly Artus doubly 
by robbing him of the maiden he loves and at the 
same time give him a rotten son to drag him down- 
ward. Thus canst thou equalize the praetorship ! A 
fitting picture he will make of magistracy when the 
son thou givest to him is made to commit crimes of 
such vile nature that the duties of the father compel 
him to sentence others for similar deeds!” 

She laughed heartily at the thought, but to Do- 
natus the matter was too important to permit of 
his joining in her mirth. 

“Canst thou get a son for Artus,” she continued, 
when her laughter had subsided. 

“Aye, now that I think upon it, I know the very 
dog to do the work. 

“On the very day that the election of the praetor 
is decided,” said Donatus, “I’ll send to him this son 
as a tribute to his greatness, — yet no seal of mine 
will ornament the gift! O, I owe thee much, my 
Fortunse! I will start the wheels to crush our ene- 
mies this very moment!” 

Soon afterwards the young poet Regus received 
a tablet from Donatus inviting him to coena that 
very day. Such invitations were not refused in 
Rome, for the wealth of Donatus had earned for him 
a certain respect in these matters. The ambitious 
Regus immediately sent a letter of acceptance, and 
long ere sundown, was seated in the beautiful sum- 
mer triclinium at the house of Donatus. 


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“I was telling my Fortunae/’ said Donatus, ''of 
thy lines on Tarpeia and she has expressed the wish 
to hear them from thy lips, good Regus. Wilt thou 
favour me by gratifying her desire?’^ 

His guest, not loathe to display his talents, re- 
cited the verses. 

Mecinia played her part well and wiped invisible 
tears from her eyes though she smiled behind her 
arm. She said : 

"Oh, Regus, thou didst move me ! Thy lines are 
beautiful indeed! Wilt thou have a copy made for 
me upon metal so that I can forever preserve them 

Regus, flattered in fullest measure at the com- 
pliment, replied: 

"Wert thou not even the love of Donatus thy 
beauty would suffice to make thy every wish a com- 
mand of Venus!” 

The calculating Mecinia said : 

"Hadst thou but heard him scold me ere thou 
didst arrive, thou wouldst not think, good Regus, 
that I was his only love !” 

"Scold thee, lady Fortunse? ’Tis impossible!” 

"Nay, ^tis a fact, and thou shalt hear. I declared 
that because a man bears no feeling of friendship 
for another, he hath no right to deprive that other 
of his rightful son.” 

"Truly I agree with thee in principle,” replied 
Regus. 

"Listen then and decide not against me else, Ecas- 
tor ! I will say that thou too, art unjust. Dost thou 
perchance know one called Artus, a military trib- 
une ?” 

"Know him? He is my patron, a man I admire 


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and love above most men, and I am proud to call 
him friend,” replied Regus. 

'‘Ah,” continued Mecinia, "then hear that this 
Artus, whom I know not save by hearsay, hath a 
son. Donatus learned this by accident, and likewise 
knows where this son is to be found, yet the father 
knows naught of this. Now I claim, O Regus, 
that Donatus commits a wrong by not acquainting 
Artus with the fact, yet Donatus scolds me and de- 
clares ‘it is not his concern.’ ’Tis wrong, I say. 
No father should be separated from his son unless 
Rome desires it!” 

‘‘That is true, Regus,” said Donatus, ‘‘yet I still 
contend that it is no business of mine. Artus has 
refused my invitations to dine with me and thus 
implies he desires no friendship with me.” 

Regus thought for a moment and then fell into 
the well-set trap, for he said : 

‘‘In such a case, Donatus, it doth appear to me 
that thou dost let pass an opportunity to make of 
Artus thy friend forever!” 

With an assumed indifference Donatus replied : 

‘‘I care not for his friendship. I take pride in 
the fact that I stand alone, true to mine own convic- 
tions, nor do I beg for friendships, not even for that 
of the Caesar with whom I nevertheless stand in 
high favor. What therefore dost thou think I care 
for Artus? Let him, I say, find his own children. 
I am no public child collector!” 

"I’ll grant thee all of that, Donatus,” replied the 
now excited Regus, "yet I claim that thou dost owe 
to the gentle-hearted Fortunae, this favor.” 

"I would not deny it to her if she could discover 


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some manner whereby this prodigal could be restored 
to his father, albeit my name did not appear in the 
matter/' 

Mecinia was quick to say : 

“That is easy, Donatus, for surely some good 
friend of Artus would be most pleased to take happy 
responsibility for the action.” 

This was the final stroke at Regus and he sur- 
rendered unconditionally, for he said : 

“By Hercules! I would be most happy to send 
the joyful tidings to Artus didst thou but give me 
the opportunity !” 

Donatus said : “I care not who takes it, so long as 
Artus is not aware that 'tis I that serves him.” 

Mecinia then said in softest tone : 

“Regus, thou art a true friend,” and the poet 
replied : 

“I am glad indeed to do this thing — for thee, for 
Artus and for myself. I beg of thee to tell me 
more.” 

Donatus informed him of the supposed accidental 
discovery of the youth whose identity, the senator 
said, proved him to be the son of Artus. Donatus, 
however, concealed from Regus, all information as 
to the character or personality of the son, and the 
poet was overjoyed at this opportunity to serve 
Artus. 

“Give me thy vow, Regus,” added Donatus, “that 
my name will not appear in the matter, — and O, 
Regus, whilst I think upon it, those lines of thine 
to Tarpeia have much impressed me. Canst thou 
have them engraved on a silver plate? I desire it as 
a present for Augustus. Have this made for me and 
spare no expense, for I will bear the cost.” 


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Regus was flattered beyond measure. 

“My poor words in silver, sent to the Caesar ! O, 
Donatus, thy kindness overwhelms me and I am 
truly grateful 

“Regus,” responded Donatus, “I expect great 
things from thee.” 

Late that evening Donatus opened a cabinet and 
took therefrom a long, dark Gallic cloak with a hood. 
He summoned a favourite freedman, Galbus by 
name, whom he had often rewarded in the past with 
unusual generosity for co-operation in certain evil 
enterprises. They awaited until darkness had set 
in, and leaving the house by a rear exit set forth. 

“Galbus, art thou sure thou canst get the com- 
panions thou needest for the business ?” said Donatus 
to his companion. 

“I make no mistakes, lord, for I know where there 
are roosting in a nest some vultures who fly wher- 
ever the carcass lies.” 

“In this matter, Galbus, thou shalt be compelled 
to use thy dagger freely. The brutes that help thee 
must not live to remember the tale and suck from 
me the milk that I would much prefer to add to thy 
rewards.” 

Galbus smiled with satisfaction, and replied : 

“Feel this strong arm of mine. Once I thrust, I 
never fail to touch the core!” 

iK * * 

The object of Donatus to secure a youth of un- 
known parentage who would fit into his plan of 
campaign against Decius and Artus, was by no 
means a difficult matter in dissolute Rome. The 
senator, however, required one who would be pos- 
sessed of those necessary evil traits that would serve 


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to cut the soul of the proud Artus. Such an one 
he succeeded in finding, for he numbered among his 
clients a youth who was dissipated, effeminate, lean 
in stature, bore an evil reputation as a dishonest 
gambler and was much addicted to the wine-cups. 

^‘Just such a tool as this will act as my worm of 
destruction, rotting the heart and pride of the posing 
Artus!’’ thought Donatus. 

He summoned the youth and said to him : 

‘‘Bassus, thou knowest I have been a generous 
patron to thee, overlooking thy faults, for I reason 
that youth is youth. The day has come, however, 
when thou shouldst act as becomes a man worthy of 
Rome. Therefore, after much trouble and expense, 
I have succeeded in finding for thee thy rightful 
father. Ere long thou shalt go to him.” 

‘What sayest thou, great and noble senator, my 
rightful father! A shrine to Bacchus! Is he rich, 
O Donatus?” 

“Well fixed in worldly possessions. He is of 
Equestrian rank and a man of coming greatness.” 

“Truly, my most noble and merciful patron, thou 
hast made my fortune for me and I will remain thy 
debtor forever. My father found and — and rich !” 

“Mention naught of the matter to anyone. Mean- 
while take this purse and celebrate thy good fortune. 
Yet stay a moment, — there is one thing that I shall 
expect from thee as part payment of thy debt. I 
expect thee, in the future, to furnish me with any 
information that I may desire as to thy father and 
his friends. He is, as I told thee, a man of influ- 
ence, and though I must withhold his name from 
thee, for these few days, such information as I may 
need would prove of mutual benefit to us all. Fur- 


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thermore, give me thy vow that he will never know 
that Donatus befriended him by finding his son 
whom he himself has unsuccessfully sought for 
years. He would come to me fawning and pouring 
out his thanks to me ; I hate such things. Likewise 
I must coach thee on incidents of thy life of which 
thou dost remember naught. Thy vow, and go.” 

‘T vow to thee by great Jupiter himself, good 
Donatus, that all shall be as thou dost command. 
Hasten thou the moment of our meeting, nor fear 
that I will not serve thee, for thou hast made my 
fortune by a single stroke. A shrine to Bacchus !” 

Bassus rushed out to his favourite wine-shop. 

When he had left, Donatus laughed long and loud- 
ly, and said, *^Gods ! how Artus would come with 
fawning thanks to me for giving him this rotten 
son ! Methinks he would bring with him a double- 
edged dagger for my breast. How well the simple 
word-spouter Regus fits into my plans, for Artus 
believes much in him ! The drunken son, — though I 
pray Bacchus to keep him sober on that day! — 
will be made doubly welcome with Regus’s seal upon 
him. Truly this is a joke that Fortunae created to 
make tears of laughter roll from the eyes of an 
Egyptian sphinx!” 

Hearing his laughter, Mecinia entered. 

‘‘My lord Donatus, methinks thou art in most 
pleasant humour.” 

“I am drowning in tears of laughter!” replied 
Donatus, “and I will buy thee this very day, my 
Fortunae, whatsoe’er thy heart is set upon, for truly 
I owe it to thee.” 

He proceeded to tell her of the development of 
his plans. 


CHAPTER XXI 


The evening follo’wing that on ’which Artus had 
last visited Decius, the latter walked, as was his 
usual custom, to the riistica where he greeted Aegea. 

“How fares the youth this night?” he inquired. 
“But first tell me, how art thou ? Thou art not be- 
coming tired of thy duties?” 

“No, Domine; yet I have my moods — at times. 
Glaccus, too, has been most serious throughout the 
day. He eats but little.” 

“Aegea,” continued Decius, “thou dost hold a 
good place in his heart. Has he ever made a confi- 
dante of thee?” 

“He has told me much, yet naught to make me 
think he worries, save at the delay in his mending.” 

“No more than this?” queried Decius, as he 
looked piercingly into her eyes. 

“Good senator, I do not understand thy close 
questioning!” 

“Patience, Aegea, and do not misinterpret my 
words. I have but two things in mind, the health 
of the youth, and thy comfort. I thought he may, 
perchance, have annoyed thee. That, thou knowest, 
is not my purpose in keeping thee here.” 

“I am most happy here, and I was but thinking 
this very day that I will leave this beautiful place 
with keen regret when I take up my work again in 
Rome. Nay, Glaccus has never annoyed me!” 

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Decius realized that it was impossible for him to 
question Aegea upon those matters suggested by 
Artus. 

‘‘I have in mind thy future. Soon we will see 
the departure of Glaccus. What, then, of thee? Most 
nearly every eve I look forward to seeing thee, and 
it is a pleasure. My words are blunt, yet I would 
have thee know how much I — I would miss thee if 
I did not find thee here at sundown. Can we not 
arrange it that when Glaccus leaves thou canst re- 
main here ? I could use thee in my household. The 
handmaidens of my daughter fill her ears with all 
sorts of things I would keep from her — for awhile. 
With thy good influence about her, I would feel 
more safe.” 

‘^Thou dost not weigh thy words, O, Senator. 
What knowest thou of me? Who or what I am, 
save that I came from — from the Subura, and too, 
thou knowest the meaning of that word ! Yet there, 
it doth appear, the gods believe that I belong. There- 
fore, acting on their judgment it is but meet that 
I return there when my services are no longer 
needed here. Too, thy daughter needs a woman of 
high station to guide her in accordance with patri- 
cian customs. There are indeed many impoverished 
widows of rank in Rome to-day who would most 
gladly welcome the opportunity thou dost, in thy 
thoughtless generosity, extend to me!” 

“Thy words in part ring true. They remind me, 
too, of the injustice of rank sometimes. Yet hear 
me. This matter is important to me. Thou know- 
est how my motherless flamb’ has always lived here 
on these grounds. Likewise thou canst realize that 
in this I have made a grevious error. In her inno- 


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cence she knows but little of life — and other things. 
Yet dost thou not think within thy heart, Aegea, 
that it is nobler to have her trained in those quali- 
ties of purity and gentleness than for her to study 
the secrets and the vices of our misnamed patrician 
ladies? To me it doth appear there is no problem 
in this, save that some day when she marries the 
man I have had in mind for her these many years — 
some day she will — Aegea, I must confess that the 
problem is beyond me. Canst thou suggest some 
help?" 

Aegea was affected by his blunt speech, but said 
nothing. She realized that it was not only among 
the plebians that sorrow dwelt. Who, witnessing 
the stately villa and the large familia, who, hearing 
the great and hearty laugh of the “domine" would 
have thought that Decius carried within his heart 
a worry such as this? 

“Aegea," continued Decius, “think upon this 
thing for me. Perchance thy woman’s wit will aid 
me. I confess ignorance in these matters. Me- 
thinks my rightful place is in the tent rather than 
the nursery!" 

Decius left her and, as he walked slowly across 
the little bridge, he mused: 

“Now indeed, for the first time, I discover a 
flaw in the perception of Artus! ’Tis absurd to 
think that Aegea bears for the youth a lustful pas- 
sion! I know her well, and will speak to Artus of 
the matter this very night." 

When he reached the portico he found Artus con- 
versing with Decia. 

“A greeting to the new praetor," he shouted. 


gg tbt (gotig Decree i35 

“Come, I must speak to thee upon important busi- 
ness.” 

Together they walked down the marbled path- 
way, ornamented on each side by many statues, 
which stood like spirits in the fast disappearing twi- 
light. 

“For once I claim the laurel from thee; for, by 
Hercules! I questioned Aegea upon the thing thou 
didst suggest. Thou art wrong, my Artus ; wrong !” 

“Didst thou question her direct upon this thing? 
Didst thou ask her if, or otherwise, Glaccus spoke to 
her of love?” 

“I did not,” said Decius, “yet I suggested it. 
I asked her if Glaccus annoyed her in any way. 
She replied in the negative.” 

“Ha!” laughed Artus, “then, methinks. Til hold 
my laurel awhile ! Love is no annoyance ! I do not 
surrender upon such poor show of force !” 

“Then seek evidence for thyself, for I must needs 
be through with it,” said Decius seriously. 

“Fll act upon thy suggestion. And, O, Decius, 
whilst I think upon it, hast thou heard of the diffi- 
culties being experienced in the establishing of the 
new provinces upon proper foundations ?” 

“Yes, I heard of them.* I said that the increase 
in the number makes the movement of government 
more complex with added numbers of proconsuls, 
legates, procurators, and — all the rest who pile the 
senate with a weight of documents which detracts 
our minds from more important business.” 

“Methinks, Decius,” said the tribune, “that thy 
life is making thee lazy. Thou art too rich! I 
remember campyaigns during which thou didst work 


136 tfte <goog Dectee 

the most entire day and night without complaint. 
Thou dost question the wisdom of the princeps be- 
cause it makes work for the senate who are in ses- 
sion but three days each month! Lazy Decius! 
‘Men who hold office must work hard.’ Canst thou 
not see that the policy of Augustus is commendable 
in this, that it aims to bring about more numerous 
central points in government of the several 
peoples?” 

Decius was thoughtful for a moment and then 
said : 

“Thy judicial mind wins the race. Now that 
I think upon it I must admit there is a chance for 
more prompt dispensing of law and justice. Our 
very courts in Rome are behind hand in their busi- 
ness, notwithstanding the fact that Julius increased 
the number of praetors, magistrates and others, 
manifold. Indeed he made the number of praetors 
alone sixteen!” 

“Yet, Decius, that detracts not from the volume 
of work I must assume with my praetorship; there- 
fore hide thy face in shame that thou, one of the 
august fathers of Rome, crieth out against some 
added labor! I agree with Livius when he speaks 
of the immense heaps of laws crowded one upon 
the other. He truly states that the laws of the 
Ten Tables remain the source of all public and 
private jurisprudence. I believe that praetors, 
magistrates, lawyers and all the rest would do well 
to adhere more closely to these original founda- 
tions. The creation of complications destroys the 
true value of justice. The principles of Livius will 
guide me, Decius, in my incumbency of the office of 
praetor.” 


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‘‘Thy decision is commendable, my Artus. I have 
no fear as to thy abilities.” 

“I have not forgotten my suggestions as to those 
possible lovers.” 

“Hold thy eyes, for I fear they’ll jump from be- 
neath thy brows in thy endeavors to see wanton 
love between Aegea and the youth. Jupiter watch 
o’er thee.” 

“Seek thy bed, lazy senator,” said Artus, “for I 
will walk another thousand steps.” 


CHAPTER XXII 


Early the following morning Glaccus found him- 
self at the stream again. The scent of the acanthus, 
the Cyprus, the olive, mingled in the air. 

For the past three days he had visited the bank 
of the stream which held for him such sacred 
memories, and these were now all for which he 
could hope. Not one glimpse of the ‘‘nymph” had 
rewarded him during this period. 

“I do not blame her,” he said, as if to convince 
himself. “I was forward in crossing.” 

He stopped a moment to watch a robin cooing 
to his mate; again he saw flowers growing, some- 
times in pairs, as though in desired isolation from 
the rest. 

Eventually he arrived at the bank of the stream 
and wended his way close to the gently flowing 
water. He gazed at the tree under which he lay 
that morning on which she came to him and bathed 
his wound when he was unconscious ; the tree, upon 
which the bark of which, — so different indeed from 
the sand of the arena! — ^he had fought his battle 
against his weakness, to save the birds, to win the 
laurel — the laurel of those few words which he now 
valued a thousand times more than any auctora- 
mentiim, or reward, given to victorious gladiators. 

As he looked across the stream again he suddenly 

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beheld the face of Decia peering- through the 
branches on the opposite shore. He feared to make 
any move that might perchance rob him of a sight 
of her. Love steals on us imperceptibly. Their eyes 
met in one long exchange of glances. The lily- 
white hand of Decia was resting gently on her 
bosom, as she held her light palla more closely to- 
gether to hide, perchance, the unexpected emotion 
betrayed by her heaving bosom, — emotion kindled 
by the sight of the youth. As though drawn to- 
gether by an invisible force, neither striving against 
the power of this mutual attraction, they walked 
slowly toward the bridge. Glaccus crossed to her. 

sweet maiden,” he said softly, ‘T have prayed 
to Jupiter to let me see thee again ! Fear me not.” 

Decia blushed, as she replied : 

‘T do not fear thee, Glaccus, for thou who didst 
strive to save birds would not harm a — maiden.” 

‘‘By Venus herself, I vow I would not — but thou 
hast learned my name !” 

‘‘Aye, the gods told me !” she replied smilingly. 

“Soon I must leave these lands of thy noble mas- 
ter, Decius, — perchance never to return.” 

Decia smiled, as Glaccus spoke of her father as 
“thy noble master.” Then her face paled slightly, 
and the manner of a petted patrician succeeded her 
former humility. 

“Why dost thou tell me this,” she said; “dost 
thou think it means aught to me whether thou dost 
return or otherwise ?” 

A wave of colour overspread the face of Glaccus. 

“Alas, I am a clumsy bungler — and though thou 
art a slave, I beg forgiveness of thee. I sought not 
to annoy thee. Vale V* 


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He turned and, sadly, though with head erect, due 
to his sense of injured pride, started to walk slowly 
from her. 

At the sound of that terrible word “Vale,” which 
Decia had read so often on the tomb of her mother, 
— a word which Glaccus had flung at her with all 
the tenderness and disappointment of his soul, it 
seemed that the sun had suddenly disappeared. 
Decia felt a catch in her throat, and as she saw 
him leaving her, perhaps forever, she said softly, 
“Glaccus!” 

The youth heard her, and it seemed to him that 
the word was weighted down with tears. He 
turned suddenly and saw Decia leaning against the 
rail of the bridge, with one hand slightly extended 
toward him. He walked quickly toward her, his 
eyes illumined by an expression of tenderest love. 

“I — I did wrong thee, Glaccus,” she said, and he 
replied : 

“Thou couldst do no wrong. Forgive me for 
reminding thee of thy bondage.” 

Her hand was still extended toward him, and 
gently he made it a willing prisoner in his own and 
raised it to his lips. When he released it, Decia took 
the chaplet of lilies from her golden hair and handed 
it to him in silence. She then rushed suddenly 
from him. 

“Maiden! maiden!” he shouted, but the only an- 
swer that came to him was the sounds of the flow- 
ing stream. He held the little chaplet of flowers 
within both his hands, and lingered, regretting to 
tear himself from the spot on which she had stood. 
Aegea, who had come for him, saw him recrossing 
the bridge. 


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‘'Glaccus/' she said, “thou hast disobeyed orders 
— and — crossed the stream!” 

The sight of his returning strength, however, was 
pleasing to her, and together they returned to the 
rustica. 

Glaccus was unusually quiet, yet Aegea was 
startled by the expression of joyous hope that il- 
lumined his countenance. 

“Where didst thou obtain those lilies ?” she ques- 
tioned. 

“Indeed,” replied Glaccus, “the — ^gods — gave 
them to me, — though I had need to cross the stream 
— for them.” 

That evening Decius was gratified at the progress 
of Glaccus. 

“By the gods,” he said to Artus, whom he had 
left conversing with Decia at the portico, “another 
fortnight and Glaccus will set forth for me I” ^ 

“Forth where?” queried Artus. 

But Decius remained silent. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


“Glaccus improves, Decius,’’ said Artus to the 
senator one evening as they slowly crossed the 
bridge, and the latter replied: 

‘'Have we not well tended him? I remember 
when thousands lay upon the field at Philippi, we 
did not concern ourselves a decimal part about their 
welfare as we do that of this youth. I’ll not forget 
thy ride in haste from Rome.” 

“Such importance didst thou attach to the fever 
of the youth that I was surprised. It doth not seem 
to me, Decius, that thou art the same man who 
once coldly gave orders to slay a hundred hostages 
because the enemy broke faith !” 

“But those were times of war, Artus. By all 
the customs and usages of olden Rome, these hands 
of mine should now be guiding a plow; yet I live 
the life of a fat and wealthy tradesman! I sicken 
of it at times, and I tell thee that were it not for 
my lamb, I vow I would make the princeps much 
more warlike in his aims and purposes I” 

Artus laughed. “These be wondrous times, 
Decius! I predict that ere long every Roman, — in- 
cluding the greasy plebians — will become a voluptu- 
ary, — and inaction means the decadence of a nation. 
Witness Egypt!” 

Decius sighed. “I hope I’ll never see the day. 

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143 


I would rather have my armor dented and cut 
through a hundred times on the field of war than 
join the shades straight from the shapely arms of 
some sensual damsel, who, when tired of my weighty 
charms, would perchance dismiss me for some ef- 
feminate youth !” 

‘‘Hast thou in mind our friend, Donatus, who 
formerly changed his mistresses at each new 
moon?” laughed Artus cynically. 

“The curses of Cerebus and Hecate on that man, 
Artus! It sorely puzzles me how Augustus, in his 
cleansing process in the senate, overlooked the foul- 
est stench of all!” 

“Thumbs down, Decius! Mercy on fallen ene- 
mies. Thou hast won at each and every thrust !” 

“Aye, — thus far, Artus, yet ’gainst such a man 
one fights blindfolded as the ‘Andabatae’.” 

“Methinks, Decius, that that should make the 
combat more interesting. I would that I were in the 
fray!” 

“Patience, for soon thou wilt be. As praetor, 
I hope to see thee, ere these bones loosen, helping 
my tottering form to present petitions at the sella 
ciirulis of the princepsT 

“Thou art a wondrous man who can thus face 
old age without a fear!” 

“Thou wrongest me, for I have that fear. May 
Mars grant that the spear of some barbarian will 
pierce my heart before senility makes me helpless !” 

Artus put his hand on the shoulder of Decius 
and said : 

“And I hope that I may be there with thee and 
not survive thee!” 

They walked onward in silence and came upon 


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Decia in the garden. She was strangely quiet, and 
her handmaids stood conversing in a group at some 
distance from her. 

‘"Ho!” shouted Decius in lusty tones, “do we 
celebrate a funeral?” 

“Father!” screamed Decia, “thou didst startle 
me!” 

“Since when does thy father startle thee! Thy 
mother always said my armor’d tread was the only 
loud noise through which thou couldst sleep as a 
babe! Art thou drifting from me with the years?” 

“My father,” she replied, “they bring me closer.” 

“Hast thou no greeting for the tribune, Artus?” 
said the latter, as he enclosed her little hand in his. 

“My father startled me,” said Decia. 

“Thy father did most right; this is no time or 
place for gloom !” 

“What a poor slave I am,” said Decia, “who can- 
not even close my lips because it doth annoy a sena- 
tor and a tribune !” 

Then she laughed merrily, bringing over the land- 
scape a sudden flood of happiness. 

“What is the programme for the afternoon?” 
said Artus. “Thou didst send for me?” 

The eyes of Decius twinkled as he replied : 

“Canst thou not guess?” 

“I cannot,” responded Artus. 

“I will visit Taurus and will take thee with me.” 

“I read gladsome news from thy words, Decius, 
and thou art making me curious as a woman. Has 
it aught to do with the praetorship ?” 

“Aught, dost thou ask? Nay, all.” 

Calling a slave, he ordered the rheda to be made 
ready for early departure. 


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“Fortune smiles again,” said Artus; “yet think 
not, Decius, that my ambition is founded on purely 
selfish motives. Always before me I have in my 
mind’s eye the progress and welfare of Rome. It is 
the shrine at which I worship, as thou knowest.” 

“By Castor and Pollux ! there is no better one to 
be found on earth! I’ll give thee all the chances 
thou needest, for I realize full well that none will 
escape thee. I aim to make the Augustus stretch 
his neck and learn a thing or two!” 

“Since when hast thou turned flatterer, Decius ?” 
asked Artus. 

“Since — since I chose thee for a praetorship/’ re- 
plied Decius as he laughed, and added : 

“Decia, come and salute the new praetor — full 
upon the lips, I say I” 

But Decia hesitated. Perchance her thoughts 
were at the stream, and Artus, observing her hesi- 
tancy, waved his hand and said: 

“Alas, how womanhood blooms upon the moment ! 
Thy lamb is now full grown and I must realize that 
she will henceforth kiss no man save thee, Decius, — 
and him who will some day take her from thee!” 

He took her hand and kissed it, and then tipping 
her chin upward, looked long and intently into her 
eyes. He became serious as he continued to gaze 
at her, for it appeared to him that he observed an 
expression he had never before seen there in all the 
years gone by! The face of Decia became suffused 
with blushes. 

“Hark, Decius!” he said, “the bud has bloomed 
into a rose! Fallen are the petals of innocence and 
now the flower of womanhood is disclosed! It has 
come at last, for even thy mighty father-love could 


146 gg tfte <goOg Dcctcc 

no longer retard it. Get the wine, Decius, and we will 
drink to the lady Decia!” 

“Nay,” said Decius, “not yet, not yet a while ! I 
do not hold the strength to celebrate such calamity ! 
On the morrow, on the morrow !” 

The journey to Rome was made in silence. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


Glaccus set forth on his walk toward the stream. 
Though the hour was earlier than that at which he 
usually went there, his object was to lie beneath his 
favourite tree and dream. She had made no prom- 
ise to meet him again, but with the confidence of 
youth, strengthened by his love, he felt that she 
would not, could not, disappoint him. What should 
he say to her? 

‘‘A slave girl!” Already thoughts flew through 
his mind that on his successful return from the mis- 
sion for Decius, he would ask, as his reward, her 
freedom I 

‘Wet why free her,” he questioned himself. 
“Why should I not own her and then let the slave 
rule the master? How great a jest it would be 
if I should own her! I, who worship the very 
ground on which she walks! But, nay,” he con- 
tinued, “rather shall I give her manumission and 
say to her, ‘Thou art free! I have earned thy 
freedom for thee! Repay me as thou wilt!' What 
if Decius should refuse this reward to him! Who 
knows but that the little slave girl is his pet ! The 
senator may not part from her!” 

He sprang to his feet, agitated at the very 
thought, and then said, aloud : 

“Then Glaccus will become the slave of Decius! 
Thus will I bind myself to guard her!” 

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This thought seemed to console him, and he re- 
sumed his place upon the ground. His thoughts 
came tumultuously from the excitement of antici- 
pation. Several times he arose and paced to and 
fro, and frequently gazed at the opposite bank of 
the stream hoping to see her. 

‘‘How like a flo-wer, — like the lilies she gave me, 
gentle and frail, yet strong in the possession of 
beauty! ’Tis not possible that any one could be 
harsh to her I” 

Again he seated himself and was soon rewarde 1 
by a vision of white which appeared on the opposite 
shore. Quickly he crossed the bridge and, with both 
hands extended, whispered to her : “My nymph !” 

Decia approached him calmly, but it seemed as if 
her speech had frozen. Hesitatingly she reached 
forth her hand to him. He clasped it in both of 
his, but this time had not the courage to press it to 
his lips. 

“Venus has smiled upon me! Thou art good to 
come,” he said. 

She turned her head from him. 

“Fear not that I will gaze rudely at thee. Give 
me one glance from thine eyes and that will suffice 
me until thou dost favour me thus again of thine 
own free will. See, I did not hurt thee !” 

He smiled at her, and she noted his strong white 
teeth embedded in the firm jaw, saw the gentle 
smile which started her heart throbbing anew. 

“Now that thou hast looked upon me, speak. Say 
Glaccus, a name that I pray the gods will grant that 
I will make famous for thy sake, if so it would 
please thee. Speak! Why dost thou hesitate?” 


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149 


With a smile she murmured, almost inaudibly, 
“Glaccus.” 

As he felt the mist of tenderness that enveloped 
the tone of her voice as it were, his heart beat with 
joy. 

“What is thy name?” asked Glaccus. “I know a 
hundred that would not do thee justice, — yet, say, 
how art thou called?” 

“I will not tell thee my name,” said Decia. 

“O, gracious words! I have made thee speak, 
and in the enjoyment of the music, did overlook 
their import. Thou didst say hhou wilt not !’ — and 
thou art right. I beg forgiveness. Say thou art not 
angry at me for thus approaching thee?” 

These words, spoken with all the tenderness of 
his nature, and intensified by the yearning for 
affection that he had smothered through the years 
gone by, had an unwonted effect upon his auditor, 
for now there was no hesitation in her glances, no 
fear of this man who spoke to her so gently. Then 
she thought of Artus. How cold and distant the 
tribune now seemed beside this gentle youth I Glac- 
cus did not dare to utter a sound or make a single 
movement that would, perchance, spoil the picture 
before him. 

“Glaccus,” she said softly, “thou didst not 
think it unmaidenly of me to come to see thee 
again?” 

“Unmaidenly!” he said, “indeed it was but char- 
ity, for I was dying of a thirst to see thee, and 
thou hast given me the cup to start me again on my 
journey. I am but rough, I know; indeed it is 
not long since the cries of the bloodthirsty rabble 


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who pour through the vomitoria, goaded me on to 
slay men whose faces I had never before seen. 
Then thy good master, the noble Decius, brought 
me here to mend. Thou knowest I was sorely 
wounded. Thus canst thou perceive how poorly 
I was started in this life, and always I have been 
enwrapped in exercise for the arena. Yet hear 
me, since I have rested here, — thanks to thy noble 
master, — a new life awaits me, for ere long I set 
forth on a journey. Alas ! perchance I may never 
return; though I do not believe the gods would 
be thus cruel!” 

'^Go forth, sayest thou?” 

Glaccus did not fail to note the tone of anxiety 
in her voice. 

‘‘And does it not please thee that I go forth?” 
he asked gently; “fear not to tell me that thou dost 
care, for if thou dost, that knowledge will strengthen 
and console me.” 

Decia remained silent. She knew not how to 
answer him, and, too, a lump had come into her 
throat, even as it had one day when she saw her 
strong father weeping at the tomb of her mother. 
Together they walked to the bushes and sat on 
the grass beneath the shade of a willow tree. He 
lay down before her, resting his chin on his hands 
and looking up at her. 

“Dost thou care?” he said. 

The eyes of Decia had become glazed, and she 
struggled mightily to withhold her tears. 

“Tell me,” he asked, “that thou art not unhappy 
here. They say that the noble Decius is a most 
kind master and, too, with one so young and 
beautiful as thou, he could not be harsh. If he 


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were, I vow by Mars! I’d slay him, forgetting my 
debt of gratitude to him, — although it is indeed a 
heavy one!” 

Decia could hardly repress a smile. She, the 
daughter of Decius, a slave! She, who would be 
heir to the very soil upon which Glaccus now lay 
before her! She remained silent. 

“Thou art a slave, art thou not?” queried Glac- 
cus. 

“I would not change my master,” she replied soft- 
ly, as she lowered her eyes. 

“Thy answer is music to my ears, for I can now 
go forth in peace knowing how well thou art kept. 
Yet when I return I’ll buy thy freedom; then thou 
canst go wheresoe’er thou wilt, without restraint.” 

At the thought Glaccus sprang to his feet and 
clenched his hands, but Decia said: “Perhaps ’tis 
better that I be thus kept here, — for, see, I come to 
thee as — as — I am.” 

They had both become silent, for they were peer- 
ing into the future. Slowly and instinctively his 
hand sought hers, and as he touched her finger, 
he drew back his arm as though it had been struck. 
He was amazed at himself. Here was this thing 
for which he had thirsted and starved, — this little 
hand of which he had dreamed through the still 
nights and the long stretching days, — this hand that 
now awaited his clasp and he without the courage to 
grasp it! However, his was not a nature to accept 
defeat the first thrust! The arena had proven 
that. He tried again. There lay her soft little 
hand resting on the grass, tempting him, drawing 
him toward it, making him almost powerless 
through fond anticipation. He looked into her eyes 


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and the tender light he found there, caressing him 
as it were, removed his fears, and gave him the 
needed added power. Not to win the entire com- 
bat at a single thrust, however! No, but gently 
to clasp one of her fingers, for slowly its unresist- 
ing companions must needs follow it - along the 
roadway of delight that would lead to his lips. 
The minutes, the hours passed, most of them in 
silence. What need for words? Speech would 
have been fruitless. The humming of the bees 
was a tune that came forth as from a cithara of 
love; the gentle zephyrs whispering through the 
trees rendered an accompaniment to speechless rap- 
ture; the sounds of the flowing stream against 
the bank made melody, and the kissing of the leaves 
eased the lovers’ fluttering hearts; and Glaccus, 
lying on the earth before her, holding her little 
hand in his, gazed silently at her as he worshipped 
at the shrine of love. He feared to awaken her to 
the realization that she had loaned to him that 
great possession, greater than the wealth and power 
of the ‘‘Caesar Imperator,” — that little white hand. 
His hands stained with the blood of others, rough- 
ened by years of vicissitude, the palms hardened by 
the rough meshes of the net, the firm grasp on the 
riidis and trident, — his bands, holding the most 
beautiful thing that he had ever seen! Once her 
white tunic slipped upward from her ankle, and, all 
unconscious, Decia sat there gazing into vacancy. 
Slowly and slyly, as though he were a thief, Glaccus 
gently drew the garment downward until it hid 
the tiny sandal covered foot! Decia was the first 
to awaken from the dream; she withdrew her 
hand from his and, looking about her, said : 


30 tfie <SoD0 Decree 


153 


“Glaccus, I must go !” 

With a sigh of dejection he looked upward and 
observed the position of the sun. At that moment 
neither could find words. Glaccus, however, with 
his usual impetuosity, saved the day. 

“Thou wilt come to me again? Soon I must 
leave these grounds. Thou wilt not let me go 
without words of farewell?” 

She was silent, and he continued : 

“I have not wounded thee, have I, with my for- 
wardness? Bear with me, for I love thee. I am 
rough and have had no experience with maidens, — 
too, I fear that each word I say may be the — 
wrong one. Say that some day thou’lt teach me 
how to speak to thee; until then, I plead, bear with 
me. I love thee, — love thee. Come to me on the 
morrow.” 

Decia still remained silent, but her eyes were 
heavy with tears. Glaccus continued, unwilling to 
relinquish the combat: 

“At least tell me that I may hope to see thee on 
the morrow. Let me live at least on hope until 
then. After that, — Mehercle ! — what matters it I I 
must go forth ere long, for thy master, Decius. 
Who but the gods can say that I will return!” 

With this final thrust Glaccus conquered, for, 
holding her hand forth to him, Decia said tenderly : 

“Glaccus, I will come.” 

Aegea at the nistica, worried at the long con- 
tinued absence of Glaccus, shaded her eyes from 
the sun, as she gazed along the pathway, anxiously 
watching for his return. She beheld a man stag- 
gering along the roadway as though he were in- 
toxicated, — and so he was. Glaccus, intoxicated be- 


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yond the greatest power of Bacchus, bereft of all 
reason save that of love, robbed of his very senses 
in all things save that love, walked, staggered, 
rolled blindly onward, unable as yet to realize that 
the fumes from the essence of love, brewed by 
Venus in the ‘‘Garden of the Gods” had permeated 
every atom of his body and conquered his soul. 


CHAPTER XXV 


The spies of Mecinia had told her of the happen- 
ings at the villa of Decius. 

“The virgin brat! So they have met!” she 
mused. “How^ like a man to succumb to the wiles 
of innocence! Ecastor! I will block the game, 
though the time is not yet ripe to steal the child 
of Decius; I must act, however, ere this seed of 
attraction takes too deep a root in the heart of 
Glaccus.” 

She arose and walked thoughtfully up and down 
the peristyle. The favourite of Dpnatiis wore a 
lacerna of fine texture which was fastened by a 
jeweled fihula, or clasp. Many other jewels adorned 
her person and her fingers and thumbs held rings 
of considerable value. A snake of solid gold, with 
glistening scales, encircled her neck, and she wore 
amulets to match. It had taken her handmaids an 
hour to dress her hair. 

“How the sight of Donatus jars me at times! 
Gods! would that I were far from it all!” 

An idea was born within her mind, and she sum- 
moned a favourite handmaid to whom she said: 

“I will go forth alone; give me a cloak with a 
hood and a dark veil. Hold thy tongue to save 
thy master's frowns, and I will reward thee. Now 
make haste and get me out by a rear exit.” 

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Throwing the cloak about her and covering her 
face with a veil, ere long Mecinia found herself 
reclining in a public litter which she had hired. 

“Canst thou make speed to the Capenan gate? 
I will pay thee well,” she said to the lecticarii, or 
litter bearers. 

‘‘Aye, noble lady, our legs are fast.” 

“Speed!” she said, “there will be no argument 
about the price!” 

The eyes of the carriers sparkled with avarice 
as they heard the jingle of coins in Mecinia’s purse. 
Outside the Porta Capena she paid them, and hastily 
hired a public rheda near the grove of the Camoe- 
nae. The driver set out at a speedy pace along the 
Via Appia. 

“Doth the little virgin think she can vie with my 
beauty?” she murmured, as she took a small silver 
mirror from the folds of her tunica and examined 
herself with satisfaction. “I know men’s natures! 
No better place to learn them than in the wine- 
shop! The disgusting Donatus is now my slave; 
albeit, he is one of the greatest men in Rome, and 
has already tired of a hundred mistresses!” 

When Mecinia arrived at the villa she ordered the 
driver to proceed slowly. She was endeavouring 
to discover some place of entrance other than the 
main roadway that connected with the Via Appia. 
They approached another road which branched off 
from “the great way.” The grounds of Decius 
were practically surrounded by. walls which, on the 
Appian side, were of considerable height. Mecinia 
ordered the driver to stop. 

“Here is a full purse,” she said. 

“O, generous lady, how can I thank thee?” 


ag tfte (SoPg Decree 157 

“By telling me how to reach the top of yonder 
wall/’ 

“I’ll back my rheda and assist thee to the top. 
Wouldst thou enter?” 

“Yes, but I aim not to break my neck in the at- 
tempt. I cannot jump it!” 

“I have a rope,” said the driver, “I’ll lower thee, 
— but thy mission is dangerous, great lady, — and 
I have children who must eat!” 

“Fear not,” she said, “thou knowest I am gen- 
erous. I’ll act upon thy suggestion. Back thy 
cart.” 

She mounted to the top of the rheda and peered 
over the wall, but observed no sign of life. In- 
deed, a grove of trees hid her from the view of any 
possible strollers in the grounds. 

“Quick, thy rope ; fasten it tighter. Thus ! Now 
quickly lower me.” 

She crouched within and ordered him to drive 
his team back and forth along the road and to 
await her call when she returned to the spot. 

Following the wall for a short distance, Mecinia 
quickly sped through the trees, searching in vain 
for the stream which divided the villa proper, or 
villa urhana, from the villa rustica and fructiiaria. 
She then proceeded through the grove, crawling 
at times on her hands and knees, stopping often 
and listening attentively, and fearing possible dis- 
covery which would unquestionably lead to publicity. 
The latter was the one thing she least desired 
Soon she heard the gentle rush of flowing water. 
It was a small stream that fed the larger one and 
she followed its course cautiously. Ere long she 
heard sounds of activity at the rustica. It was the 


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season of farming, and slaves of Decius were bring- 
ing in loads of rich olives, grapes and other pro- 
ductions of the fertile soil. Mecinia crouched low. 
Save for these distant sounds of husbandry, how- 
ever, one would have thought the place uninhabited. 
Mecinia feared to remain there too long owing to 
the fact that her driver might tire of waiting for 
her. She sat down beneath the protecting branches 
of a tree, striving to arrive at some decision re- 
garding a definite course of action. The minutes 
passed slowly. There was no sign of Glaccus. She 
arose and clenched her hands. 

‘‘Perchance,” she said, “my spy has given me 
the wrong directions. Til follow the stream toward 
the sounds.” 

Cautiously she hurried through the trees, toward 
the bank. Suddenly she heard a rustle and threw 
herself flat upon the ground. Her heart beat rap- 
idly. The sound of cracking twigs indicated the 
approach of some one. She crawled behind the 
trunk of a tree from which point of vantage she 
peered forth and beheld a tall figure approaching, 
leaning on a staff. It was Glaccus! 

He was walking slowly, evidently deeply en- 
grossed in thought. As he drew nearer, she ob- 
served that his face wore an expression of joyous 
anticipation. 

“Oh, Glaccus, would that thy look of joy was for 
me,” she murmured. 

Hastily arising, she threw her mantle from her 
and stood before him in all her beauty. He sprang 
backward as though he had been struck, gazing 
at her as if he beheld a vision ; and a vision indeed 


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it was, — a vision of that horrible past which he 
had striven so hard to forget — that past that he 
would leave behind him forever and forever, if he 
but could. 

‘‘Glaccus,” she said, “ ’tis I, Mecinia !” 

“Thou — thou, here ? Art thou a guest — of 
Decius ?” 

“Indeed, I am no guest of Decius ! I have stolen 
in here to see thee. Hast thou no word of wel- 
come 

“Welcome, Mecinia? I am so startled!” 

Perspiration stood out on his forehead and he 
drew the back of his hand across his brow. 

“Dearest Glaccus!” she said, and she held forth 
her hands to him. 

“Mecinia, what is thy wish? Learn that I have 
left all of the past behind me. Thou dost not come 
to a gladiator, for no more the arena for me I Ere 
long I leave these parts, mayhap forever. Dost 
thou crave some service? If so, thou dost not 
need Glaccus, for I see that thou art now rich. 
Fortune has indeed smiled upon thee! and — I — I 
am a beggar, living on the bounty of Decius. What 
has brought thee here?” 

Glaccus was annoyed at the interruption in his 
journey to the stream but several paces distant. 

“I come, Glaccus, because I love thee. My 
wealth has made me powerful. I always get what 
I want, Glaccus, and I who once spurned thee, aye, 
injured thee, — I love thee, and — want thee. Bitter, 
bitter tears have I shed for my wrong to thee! 
Yet I will make full reparation. Look upon me, 
I am young; they call me beautiful. Thou canst 


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leave Rome with me and I will make thee great; 
thou canst go whereso’er thou wilt — and I will go 
with thee. No man can ask for more!’' 

‘'Mecinia, I know not what to say — save — save 
that I am sorry." 

“Sorry, sayest thou? What need for sorrow 
when the gods are thus bountiful to us! Once 
thou didst love me, even when I did not know 
that I loved thee, — as I love thee now. I did not 
know it, Glaccus, by Jupiter! I vow, I did not know 
it. Only when I saw thee stricken and thy pre- 
cious blood flowing, did I realize how I loved thee, 
Glaccus !’’ 

The ex-gladiator was speechless from surprise, 
nor was he insensible to her beauty and her wealth, 
as indicated by the rich jewels she wore. 

However, no thought of his former love for her 
returned. Indeed, so firmly fixed in his heart 
was his new-born love for Decia that he realized 
that henceforth the attractions of any other woman 
would be fruitless. Yet he was a man of heart, 
or perchance his love for the little “slave-girl" had 
softened his nature. He realized that Mecinia must 
indeed love him, and he therefore sought a gentle, 
though firm, method of curing her, as it were; 
of sending her from him, if not with his love, at 
least with her pride preserved for her, for he re- 
membered how proud indeed she had always been 
even in so foul an atmosphere as that of the wine- 
shop of Largus! 

“Mecinia," he said gently, “I am not insensible to 
the goodness that has prompted thy visit." 

“Goodness, dost thou call it, Glaccus! Nay, ’tis 
Jove, — I love thee, and have come to thee. I thought 


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161 


— I thought that ere now I would be clasped in 
thy arms when thou didst realize how much I do 
love thee, Glaccus. I have come to offer thee 
all, — my all!” 

^‘Mecinia, yet I must needs speak plainly. Thou 
art mistaken in thy love for me. Suffice it that I 
say a woman such as thou, young, beautiful, blessed 
with riches, shouldst mate more fittingly than with 
the beggar, Glaccus. Wouldst thou mix fire and 
water? Go, Mecinia, — go in peace. In the life 
that thou canst now live with thy new power, thou 
wilt some day bless these words of Glaccus, and 
may Fortune continue to smile on thee, Mecinia!” 

He bowed his head as if to signify that no fur- 
ther words were necessary. Manlike, his thoughts 
had already reverted to Decia, nor did he notice 
that Mecinia had become white as the very tunica 
she wore; he did not observe the expression of 
hungry pain in her eyes nor that she clasped her 
heart. It was only when he saw her swaying form 
that he thought she had become suddenly ill, per- 
chance from the excitement of the interview, or 
the strain of the journey from Rome. He sprang 
forward and caught her in his arms, and though 
she recovered herself somewhat she made no move 
to unclasp her arms which she had thrown about 
his neck. 

*'0, Glaccus, Glaccus, I cannot lose thee!” she 
sobbed. 

In his predicament he knew not what to do. 
Venus must have frowned, however, at the condi- 
tion of things and great Jupiter, himself, surely 
disapproved, for he who was supposed to rule the 
world of mortals as well as celestial gods, had led 


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Decia earlier than was her usual wont to the bank 
of the stream. She did not find Glaccus and 
thought to spend the intervening moments until he 
arrived in walking along the bank. So it chanced 
that she strayed instead of waited and came upon a 
sight that was to transform her in a moment from 
a maiden of hope into a woman of grief. She saw, 
on the opposite bank, Glaccus! — her Glaccus of 
whom she had thought half the night and dreamed 
the other half! Her Glaccus, holding close to his 
breast a beautiful woman, whose arms encircled 
his neck! 

“Gods!” She clutched her heart with trembling 
hands and tried to shriek but could not. Her limbs 
refused to act. It was as though she had become 
rooted to the very ground, unable to move, still 
as the statues which adorned the pathway, — like 
them indeed, save for the terrible pain in her heart. 
At last the tension broke. She was the daughter 
of Decius! With will power, born of the despera- 
tion of agony and despair, she summoned her 
strength, — the strength of the Decii! Her blood 
appeared to circulate again! She ran from the 
scene, whispering, in gasps: 

“He is an evil man ! He is an evil man !” 

The volume of sound coming from her now 
parched throat, increased as she gained added 
strength, until she arrived at the garden fronting 
the portico of the villa, where she fell, shrieking: 

“He is an evil man!” 

Her handmaids heard her and she was soon sur- 
rounded by them. Decius was summoned. They 
lifted her and placed her on a marble bench where 
she sat in a daze that had followed her last out- 


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cry. When Decius came upon the scene he took 
her in his arms. It was only then that the flood 
gates of tears opened for Decia, but Decius kissed 
them away, even as her mother would have done, 
and said to her: 

“Thou hast seen an evil man, hast thou? Did 
I not tell thee thou shouldst not venture far ? When 
thou art recovered thou shalt tell me which of my 
slaves has frightened thee and I will sell him. 
Thou art ill. Perchance the monotony here tires 
thee. When Artus takes the oath as praetor, I 
will take thee to Rome!” 

She continued to sob in his arms. Later, as he 
sat beside her in her cubiailum, striving to stop her 
flow of tears, he said, half aloud: 

“ ’Tis strange ! There is no very evil man among 
my familia ! — nor have I even one compeditus 
among them ! None dare cross the stream without 
permission. By the gods, perchance in her new 
illness, she has seen a vision!” 

She heard him and cried: 

“No, father, I have seen an evil man!” 

Decius went forth to question the milieus. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


When Glaccus felt the arms of Mecinia enfold- 
ing him, a flush, as though of shame, overspread 
his countenance. He believed that her temporary 
weakness had been caused more by the distress of 
emotion than lack of physical strength, and it was 
therefore that, as he heard her sobbing, he gently 
but forcibly held her from him and said: 

^‘Mecinia, surrender not thus to emotions of the 
moment. Time heals and to-morrow things will 
look different to thee. Again I say thou wilt live 
to some day bless the decision of Glaccus.’’ 

‘T care not, Glaccus,” said Mecinia. ‘T love 
thee and want thee. Come with me. Dost thou 
not hear? I will give thee my all, my all!” 

Glaccus, however, was now master of himself, 
with thoughts of Decia uppermost. 

“Mecinia, enough,” he said, “forget Glaccus. I 
can never, never be aught to thee !’' 

“Wilt thou leave me thus, Glaccus,” she sobbed, 
“with no word to comfort me? Hast thou lost all 
thy love for me?” 

In the kindness of his nature, Glaccus put his 
hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes 
— eyes now dimmed with tears, — tears that were 
as much a surprise to him now as they would 
have been in those days at the wine-shop of Largus, 
and he said to her: 


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‘‘Mecinia, thou dost surprise me with thy gentle- 
ness! My heart goes forth to thee in pity, — yet, 
the past is dead I” 

Mecinia covered her face with her hands as she 
turned from him. He picked her mantle from the 
ground and gently threw it across her shoulders. 

With bowed head, and broken in spirit, she 
walked slowly from him. He watched her until 
she disappeared from view, and then stood for 
some moments in meditation. 

His thoughts, however, soon reverted to Decia, 
and the great contrast between these two women, 
awakened within him a stronger love for the little 
‘‘slave-girl.” 

Youth is youth! It dwells not upon disturb- 
ances! It was not long therefore ere Glaccus was 
pacing tumultuously up and down the bank, glanc- 
ing now and again upward at the sun to determine 
whether or not Decia was late at the tryst. No 
sound broke the stillness save the gentle flowing 
of the stream. No beautiful girlish face peered 
through the bushes on the opposite bank; naught 
but empty, empty solitude as minute succeeded min- 
ute. He went to the spot where they had sat 
together the previous day and there he pictured 
her in her beauty and purity. 

“Gods, why does she not come?” 

Then he thought perchance that she was ill and 
his heart beat faster at the very possibility of so 
direful a calamity ; but he waited, — waited in vain, 
— waited until the sun was long past its highest 
point in the blue canopy overhead, and he realized, 
in his despair, that she had failed him! Then the 
idea grappled with his mind that some incident had 


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occurred to detain her, some duty of her slavery. 
Sorrowfully he returned to the rustic a. Another 
long, long day to wait until the morrow when 
she would perchance come. When he entered his 
room, however, he was surprised not to find Aegea 
awaiting him. She had never before been thus 
absent at the meal hour. Such is human nature; 
we learn the value of things more in their loss than 
in their enjoyment. He walked to the entrance but 
saw no sign of life. It were as though the place 
had suddenly become depopulated! No sounds of 
husbandry, no grinding mill, no wine-press, was 
heard ; sounds to which he had become accustomed. 
He became puzzled and perplexity soon gave way 
to worry. 

He walked towards some outhouses, hungering 
for a sight of a human being. The solitude was 
unbearable. He feared that only calamity could 
thus hush all sounds of activity. He met a slave 
running quickly. 

‘"Stop!” he cried, “is this a holiday? Where are 
thy brothers?” 

The slave replied : “We have all been summoned 
by the villicus. I know not the meaning of the 
call.” 

Then Glaccus smiled, “Perchance,” he thought, 
“Decius means some kindness to them.” 

He retraced his steps. This time he was re- 
warded by seeing Aegea. 

“O, Aegea, what means all this desolation?” 

She replied : “The daughter of Decius has become 
ill and I must needs transfer my duties of nurse 
from thee to the new patient.” 


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“Alas,” said Glaccus, “that my kind patron 
should suffer grief of any kind. I pray the gods 
for her speedy recovery.” 

He sighed as he watched Aegea preparing to de- 
part. 


CHAPTER XXVII 


Mecinia returned to the vehicle that awaited her, 
and having arrived at the house of Donatus, se- 
cluded herself in her cubiciilum during the remain- 
der of the afternoon and evening. A handmaid 
had reported to the senator that the ‘‘domina” 
suffered from a severe headache. Unwittingly she 
told the truth, but the slave did not know of the 
heart-ache, the remorse, or the despair of her mis- 
tress, nor see the clenched hand striking the heav- 
ing bosom to deaden the pain of unrequited pas- 
sion. Throughout the long night Mecinia reviewed 
her past life and peered into the future, — the long, 
loveless future, — the future with her, its victim, the 
plaything of men’s fancies and passions. Then, 
strangely, she thought of coming old age with its 
wrinkles and loneliness. 

Eventually the mental fungi planted by the sur- 
roundings of her past life grew in her crafty mind. 
Why thus accept defeat, she reasoned, so early in 
the fray? Why throw aside the sword and shield 
at the first pass-at-arms? She thought, planned 
and gained courage and hope. Early the following 
morning she emerged from a bath greatly refreshed, 
and save for the dark rings encircling her eyes, 
showed no sign of suffering. 

Donatus, delighted at having her with him again 

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at the early prandium, or first meal of the day, did 
not attempt to conceal his joy and was untiring 
in his efforts to please her. 

“Donatus,” she said to him calmly, “thou hast 
sorely disappointed me.” 

“I disappoint thee, my only love, thou sister of 
Venus? I, thy slave, disappoint thee, my dominaf 
Then let Jupiter hurl me to the Imperial realms of 
Cerebus and Hecate, if my fault be intentional! 
Speak, my Fortunse, I implore thee.’' 

“I am in sore disappointment at this,” replied 
Mecinia, “that the plans of which I told thee to 
outwit thy enemies, have lain dormant, — aye, in- 
active indeed as yonder marble,” and she pointed 
to a statue of Harpocrates which adorned the 
peristyle between two of the numerous columns. 

“Dost thou forget, Donatus, that I have no in- 
terest in these matters save that they concern thee?” 

“The blessings of all the gods upon thee for thy 
sweet words,” he replied. “Learn that I await thy 
further counsels, my Fortunse, ere I give the final 
thrust.”^ 

“Have I not told thee enough? Yet forgive me, 
Donatus, if in my zeal for thy welfare I had be- 
come impatient.” 

Without further loss of time Mecinia proceeded 
to tell him further details of her plans. In the 
days that followed, she struggled desperately to re- 
strain her impatience and anxiety as to the outcome. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


Artus was elected praetor through the influence 
of Decius, the latter being known as a favourite 
of Augustus and Taurus. The very desires of 
Augustus were law, notwithstanding the fact that 
the Comitia had resumed the elections. A gen- 
erous expenditure, coupled with much strong en- 
dorsement, was fruitful of the desired results, and 
it was the senator in person who broke the glad- 
some news to Artus into whose house he walked 
one day just before prandium. 

‘T salute thee. Praetor,” said Decius, in his pow- 
erful voice. “Taurus will welcome us to dine with 
him. .Methinks he may advise thee as to certain 
policies Augustus desires to have followed.” 

“This is indeed gladsome news!” said Artus. 

“Did I not tell thee thou couldst count the office 
already thine? Throw aside the robe of candidacy, 
for soon thou shalt take the oath and wear the 
proper praetexta in its place.” 

“Forgive me, Decius,” said Artus, “if in my 
pleasure at thy news, I did not question thee on 
Decia’s welfare. I hope that she progresses well.” 

“Well, yet not well enough,” replied Decius. 
“Physicians say, — even the famous Greek! — that 
she suffers from no physical disease. She has no 
pain or illness we can discover, yet lacks energy to 

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even walk in the garden. Aegea, who is now her 
constant companion, is likewise sorely puzzled. 
Canst thou aid me in this, Artus ?” 

'‘I will go to thy villa this day. My new office 
will indeed bear a darkened tinge until thy ‘lamb’ is 
her own sweet self again.” 

Eurycele entered. 

“Greet the new praetor,” said Decius; “yet not 
as I did; methinks thy lips will please him better!” 

Eurycele, however, stood silent and motionless. 

“My mate disobeys thee, Decius,” said Artus, 
“and I tell thee she is jealous of my other mistress, 
— Rome. Eurycele, thou knowest, favours not the 
praetorship! Alas!” and he laughed teasingly. 

“Lord Decius,” said Eurycele, “listen not to tales. 
Artus knows I pray the gods for all that he him- 
self desires, yet thou knowest I am but a woman!” 

“And in that fact I envy him,” replied Decius. 
“How unlike me is thy new praetor ! I am unloved 
by woman, save my daughter, and she now lies life- 
less, save in the necessary acts to preserve the 
spark!” and he sighed aloud. 

“I grieve with thee,” said Eurycele softly. 

After bidding her farewell, Decius and Artus 
issued forth and strolled leisurely in the direction 
of the Forum, discussing various details of the 
election, and went to the house of Statilius Taurus. 

That night Artus sat in his lihrariiim. Eurycele 
approached him, hesitatingly as it were, and as 
though she feared that her intrusion would be un- 
welcome. Gently she placed her hand on his arm. 
He raised his eyes from the scroll and arose. 

“My Eurycele!” he said, as he seated her at the 
place he had vacated and placed the scroll on a 


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marble pedestal nearby. She gazed up at him, but 
spoke no word. 

‘‘Eurycele/’ said Artus, ^‘thy new childishness 
perplexes me. I perceive unflowing tears in thy 
pretty eyes. My credit, however, Eurycele, is now 
most excellent, owing to the fact that soon I will 
hold new office.” 

The face of Eurycele flushed. She arose and 
took from within the folds of her tunic a small 
tablet. 

‘‘My lord Artus,” she said, as she handed it to 
him, “this may convince thee that thy generosity 
is unquestioned, for it shows that I have to my 
credit more than half of the money thou hast given 
me to spend. It is thine to help thee uphold thy 
praetorship fittingly; therefore, never again be un- 
just to me, nor breathe that I am not content with 
what thou callest ‘thy poverty’.” 

Artus read the tablet and could hardly believe his 
eyes. He turned to her and said softly : “Eurycele, 
come.” 

She arose and rested her head on his chest, where 
she wept softly. 

“Forgive my words,” he said, “and were I not 
a Roman, I would say I am not fit to mate with 
thee. Go, little one, for I am due at the villa of 
Decius this night, as thou canst well imagine.” 

She did not move. 

“What!” he said with a laugh, as he frowned 
and kissed her, “is this insubordination?” 

“Artus, dear Artus,” she replied, “hear me, yet 
scold me not, — at least not this night. What need 
hast thou for the praetorship? Albeit as things 
are now, I see too little of thee. All things engross 


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thee, — thy candidacy, thy new catapult, Decius and 
only the gods know what else besides, and, — I — I 
— am the last. I must content myself to see thee 
leave me, — to sit home and hope, — and hope for 
thy return, — and must console myself by saying: 
‘Here he sat yesterday, and there he walked in the 
morning.’ I must needs wear out my heart in 
lonesomeness and hope. What, then, will I suffer 
when thou art praetor?” 

In his cynical nature, however, he was still un- 
convinced. He lifted her face to his and gazed 
piercingly into her eyes. 

“Eurycele, answer me. Dost thou read infidelity 
in my eyes ? Is this the fear, — the sore that bleeds 
thy tears?” 

Her voice broke as she replied : 

“No, no! by Demeter and Persephone! — a thou- 
sand times no ! I would not live to survive thy lost 
love for me.” 

This time the stern nature of Artus was touched, 
and he whispered softly, as though to himself : “I 
am unworthy of so great a love.” 

He glanced, with a look of disdain, at the un- 
finished scroll lying on the marble pedestal. With 
one arm encircling her waist, and clasping both of 
her white hands in his own free one, he gently 
led her forth into the peristyle. Night soon came. 
Overhead the purple woolen cloth had been stretched 
to afford protection from the night damp. A few 
small lamps were lighted and sent their rays 
through Alexandrian glass of varied colours, cre- 
ating a beautiful effect upon the columns that had 
been wreathed with grape-vine. A nightingale be- 
gan to call. Eurycele’s caresses of love made Artus 


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forget his ambition. Previously he had despatched 
a courier to Decius to inform the senator of a 
necessary postponement of the visit to the villa. 

Eurycele toyed with his white forelock, curling 
it about her fingers. At times she would kiss his 
hand, again would sit on his knees and press his 
lips between her fingers and rest her head on his 
chest, — and weep. Then she would laugh, from the 
very joy of living, of having him again for her 
own! Thus the hours passed. Eventually she fell 
asleep through very weariness from the joy and 
excitement of the first entire evening he had given 
her for many, many days! Gently he carried her 
to her cuhicldum. 


CHAPTER XXIX 


On the third day following’ the visit of Artus and 
Decius to the house of Statilius Taurus, and as the 
new praetor was seated in his peristyle studying the 
laws, a slave entered. 

^‘Lord,”" he said, as he handed Artus a tablet, 
“the bearer of this fled instantly upon handing it 
to the ostiariiis/' 

“What mean these strange lines!” Artus ex- 
claimed, as he read the following : 

“To the Praetor Artus. Greeting from a former 
“ enemy, whom the gods have changed into 

“ a friend: — 

“ It is not my desire to bore thee with multitudi- 
“ nous details. Jupiter has shown me the light! 
“ Thou hast been wronged. As a boy, thou didst 
“ grapple in the gutters, and — later, played the part 
“ of impetuous youth. There was a maiden. She 
“is now dead. I know all! Yet there is much 
“ within my mind of which thou art ignorant. Th> 
“youthful rape was not without fruit! This 
“ maiden bore a son. Indeed, he resembles thee. 
“ It is imperative that the machinery of my work- 
“ ings be kept a secret ; therefore must my identity 
“ forever remain unknown. In the name of Justice 
“ only, I will send that son to thee. He knows 
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nothing save that thou art his sire, — nothing of 
“ thy base act in youth. If thou dost require fur- 
“ ther proof, go to the first span of the Pons Fa- 

bricius where thou’lt find a negro slave. Say 
“ to him the word ‘proof’ twice. Methinks, how- 
“ ever, that the contents of this tablet should con- 
“ vince thee of the honest purpose of the writer. 
“ May the gods forgive me for my share in past 
“ wrongs to good Romans. Regus, thy friend, will 
“ tell thee more this day. Calchus, farewell !” 

As the full meaning of these words became 
known to Artus he changed colour. 

Composing himself, he clapped his hands and a 
slave entered, to whom he said: “Summon the 
domina” 

When Eurycele appeared at the entrance she was 
astonished to observe the expression of exultation 
on the face of Artus. 

“My lord, what gladsome news has thus il- 
lumined thy countenance?” 

“Read! read!” he said, as he handed the tablet 
to her. He paced hurriedly and in great excite- 
ment up and down the peristyle. 

“My lord Artus,” said Eurycele, “I vow a shrine 
to Venus for this gift to thee!” 

She reasoned that this at least might serve to 
bind Artus closer to the ties of home, — this son 
whom she would love and whose love she would 
strive to win. She would be his second mother, 
and hoped that this son was still a boy. With great- 
est anxiety she asked: 

“My lord, how old is this son?” 

“He is a youth full grown, and I hope, as tall in 


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Stature as I am, for he is now near twenty years 
of age! Would that he were here and that I could 
embrace him.” 

“I promise thee, my Artus,” said Eurycele softly, 
“I will not be jealous of the love thou dost be- 
stow upon him, and in me he will find a mother.” 

Artus embraced her as he said: 

“I doubt thee not, my good Eurycele. Now leave 
me to my thoughts. This night I am to visit 
Decius. How startled he will be at the news. Yet 
first I must go in person to the Pons Fabricius.” 

Quickly he was borne in his litter to the first 
span of the Pons Fabricius which crossed the Tiber 
to the little isle resting there on the bosom of 
Rome's great stream. There he alighted and had 
not long to wait ere he was approached by an 
aged negro slave whose head was partly covered by 
a hood. 

“Hail, Lord, if thou art the praetor Artus?” 
he said. 

‘T am,” replied Artus. “Proof I proof I” 

“Thy watchword, noble lord, is right. My mas- 
ter, who sent me, commanded me to tell thee this. 
He said that he alone of all men knew thy name 
in thy youth, which name was written on the tab- 
let he sent thee, and he said that when thou re- 
turnest to thy house thou wilt find one called 
‘Regus’ awaiting thee.” 

“Tell him, who sent thee, that I remain his debt- 
or forever!” 

When Artus said these words, the slave moved 
away slowly. Artus entered his litter again. As 
the bearers carried him homeward hastily, he rea- 
soned : “No man knows these things, no man save 


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Decius, to whom I told my story that day in the 
Forum, and Decius is above suspicion. The fates 
work strangely! Who knows but Euterpia con- 
fessed upon her deathbed to this man!” 

When he arrived at his house Regus was there 
to greet him. The poet clasped the wrist of Artus 
and said: 

“Artus, thou knowest that I love thee as a 
brother. Have trust in me. I say to thee that thy 
son will come, — the son of thy flesh !” 

Artus held firm to the wrist of Regus and turned 
his head aside. 

“Regus,” he said, “that he comes through thee, 
is sufficient, for I would believe thy words against 
the vows of other Romans. Thou canst well imag- 
ine, Regus, that henceforth thou shalt be my 
brother.” 

“When Fortune smiles upon me,” said Regus, 
“I vow a shrine to Venus and Mercury!” 

“And, Regus, I will find the marble for it, which 
shall be as pure as thy sincerity,” replied Artus. 

“Jupiter protect thee and grant thee every bless- 
ing,” said the poet, who immediately departed. 

Artus at once ordered a messenger despatched 
to have a chariot ready for him outside the Porta 
Capena. He hastily followed, and ere long was 
madly driving his steeds to the villa of Decius. 


CHAPTER XXX 


Artus arrived at the villa of Decius, and entered 
the peristyle, where he found Decia reclining on a 
lectiis, handmaids fanning her. Her face was pale, 
her eyes almost lustreless. No joyous laugh echoed, 
and everywhere all sounds seemed hushed. With 
bowed head Decius stood before her, gazing in ill- 
disguised worriment at her. 

“I cannot tell this grieving man of my joy this 
day,’’ mused Artus. 

Decia was the first to see him as he entered. She 
smiled sadly, — a smile which caused Decius to look 
in the direction of her glance. As he observed Artus, 
his face took on an expression of hope. There was 
Artus, the Artus who had never failed him! If he 
could tell the trouble, Artus could propound a cure, 
— Alas, could he but tell it ! Though far from being 
a superstitious man, for many of the patricians of 
Rome had long since lost confidence and belief itself 
in the very gods, he was nevertheless inclined to 
think that a solution of his problem was “not within 
the scope of mortal efforts.” 

“Some one has cast the evil eye upon her!” he 
said, “I left her well and happy. I see her now 
stricken! She has not been so fathered and moth- 
ered as to fear shadows! ’Tis a mystery beyond 
me, yet, that very night before, I heard the omin- 
ous hooting of the owl!” but he called to Artus: 
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“Welcome, welcome, in the name of Jupiter! 
Dost thou come as a messenger from Aesculapius? 
Canst thou cure this disease that saps my lamb — and 
too, my happiness?” 

Artus clasped the wrist of the senator, to whose 
words he replied, 

“Thou knowest, Decius, I would shake the foun- 
dations of Rome to serve thee — and Decia.” 

He then walked to the couch and said to the pa- 
tient lying there : 

“Decia, I crave a favour of thee which thou must 
needs grant now.” Decia sighed. 

He looked at her and smiled as he said : 

“At this moment my Decia, my request may seem 
a selfish one, yet ’tis not so. Give me a brief period 
of confidential speech with thee. Dismiss thy maids 
— and too, thy father.” 

She looked at him in astonishment. Artus plead- 
ing! She nodded her head in acquiescence, how- 
ever, and he seated himself beside her couch. 

“Decia,” he said gently, “I desire to tell thee with 
mine own lips of how Fortune has smiled upon me. 
Henceforth I shall wear the praetexta of praetor- 
ship. Tell me thou art glad?” 

Decia placed her hand in his own extended one 
but said nothing. 

“Hast thou naught to say to me, Decia?” he said 
softly. 

“I am ill. Tribune Artus. I cannot talk, — yet I 
am glad at thy happiness.” 

“And yet,” continued Artus, “I begged for these 
few moments that thou shouldst talk. I desire thy 
words, at this moment, more than any other thing ! 
Remember, Decia, that I held thee on my knees when 


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thou wert a child ; I have been thy second father and 
have loved thee as though I were the father of thy 
flesh, — mayhap even more because my blood cours- 
eth not through thy veins! Therefore I ask this 
thing, — that thou shouldst speak to me.” 

“Speak?” she said, “Of what wouldst thou have 
me speak?” 

“Of what, dost thou ask? O, what indeed save 
this ailment that keeps thee lying here as an infant, 
— that makes thy mighty father grieve as a woman, 
that makes me, thy second father, discontent with 
life itself! Say, is not this the most all absorbing 
topic of the times?” 

Decia was silent, but said at length : 

“I know not what to say to thee!” 

“Decia,” said Artus, sternly, “thou art no longer 
a child — but a woman. A disease has grappled 
thee. It is not of the body but of the mind. For- 
give me for what I must now say. I ask thee in 
plainest speech if thou lovest someone, and if thou 
dost, is Artus the man? Thou knowest I have loved 
thee through all the years. Thy father confines thee 
from all men save me, for he said he has chosen me 
for thy husband. That is his privilege by the laws 
of Rome. Yet answer me honestly. Dost thou 
love me?” 

“O, thou dost confuse me with thy questioning! 
I do love thee — as I love my father. Thou didst 
say it, I love thee as my second father. Art thou 
not content with this, O, Tribune Artus? Thou 
knowest my father has smothered all my freedom. 
Admitting his love, I have been a slave. Truly^ 
though I love him, I am ‘his lamb’ indeed !” 

“O, Decia, Decia!” said Artus reproachfully. 


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“Now speak no more, Tribune Artus,” she con- 
tinued. “I know what thou wouldst say, that I am 
an ingrate, but such I am not. I worship my father, 
yet being a woman, as thou thyself hast called me, 
it seems most natural that I should have power to 
think sometimes for myself !” 

“Ah! perchance thy father’s wishes do not coin- 
cide with thine — I mean wherein I am concerned. 
Now tell me plainly, Decia, dost thou desire me for 
a husband? If thou dost not, is this the disease, — 
this fear, this worry that Artus will some day lift 
thee across his threshold and make thee place wolf- 
fat at his door? O, Decia, Decia, thou art indeed 
a woman, an unjust woman, methinks, if this worry 
is the cause of thy sickness I Answer me, dost thou 
for a moment think that thy two fathers have in 
mind aught but thy happiness ? Dost thou not know 
that sooner we would lash ourselves unto the death 
ere we would condemn thee to a single moment 
of pain? O, Decia, thou art unjust!” 

These words impressed Decia forcibly and she 
gave way to a paroxysm of weeping. Artus was 
pleased, and reasoned that now, when the flood gates 
of tears were opened, grief would loosen the un- 
willing tongue. He sat there sternly, patiently 
awaiting the tears to cease their flow. 

“Thou dost wrong me. Tribune Artus,” Decia 
said. “Thou dost wrong me ! I love my father and 
I love thee, yet sooner would I die than marry any 
man. I am the child of my father. He commands. 
Is it not fit then that I too should command, if but 
once, and that once in the choice of a husband? I 
care not for the laws of Rome. This seems right 
to me!” 


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“But thou hast no need to command/’ said Artus 
softly. “Has not thy every wish, spoken or other- 
wise, been granted ? After all these years, dost thou 
expect a change in policy? O, how unjust, unjust!” 

“Now, Tribune Artus, thou art unkind and I will 
call my father.” 

Gently Artus took her hand in his and knelt before 
her couch. A soft light crept into his eyes and as 
they sought hers again, he said : 

“O, Decia, the first, the very first, unkind thing 
thou hast ever said to me I” 

Decia arose from her reclining position. Artus 
knew the sex — and waited. Decius, peering from 
behind a distant column in the peristyle, saw her 
throw her arms about the neck of Artus and weep. 
Puzzled, the senator frowned, and continued to look 
anxiously in their direction. 

“Can it be that she is confessing love to him?” 
Decius questioned himself, as a new hope was born 
in his mind. 

Artus held the sobbing form of Decia close to 
him. The propriety of things were forgotten, for 
here was this virgin pressed in loving embrace to 
the heart of the man who loved her, though no be- 
trothal rights had been celebrated, nor had he ever 
heard from her mouth the sacramental “Where thou 
art, Caius, there am I, Caia.” 

Decia took her arms from about his neck, re- 
sumed her reclining position upon the couch and 
said to him: 

“Artus, I do love thee even as I love my father. 
Mayhap I have wronged ye both. I desire not to 
marry. Would that I were a vestal, for no con- 
straint of service to the goddess could be greater 


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than mine own is now! As for nuptial bonds, — I 
will never tie them, never ! never ! never !” 

“And in that and in all other things, thou shalt 
be ‘domina’/’ 

“I will agree to arouse myself and follow my 
accustomed habits if thou wilt agree, and my father 
too, not to question me upon my illness, and to force 
no marriage on me. Dost thou agree. Tribune 
Artus ?” 

“A thousand, thousand times with thanks to thee 
and all the other goddesses of heaven and earth.” 

He lifted her face to his and saw there a sad ex- 
pression in her eyes, yet said : 

“I now demand first payment on account. Thou 
shalt dress thyself fittingly, come into the triclinium 
and make thy father young again, for we will drink 
in joy that Decia hath become Decia once again.” 

Turning, he shouted lustily : 

“Ho, Decius, thou peeper, come here and greet 
the reborn Decia! The physician has enacted a 
cure! Now give me all thy money bags!” 

He slapped Decius on the back as the loving father 
lifted Decia in his arms and carried her up and 
down the peristyle. The noise of his joyous laugh, 
unheard for many days, attracted the familia, and 
the slaves who gathered about clapped their hands, 
for to all it appeared that the sun had risen once 
again to shed its light upon the villa of Decius. 
Artus turned from them, however, walked toward 
the farther end of the peristyle and leaned against a 
myrtle-decked column. His brow wrinkled as he 
murmured : 

“What means that new look of grief in the eyes 
of Decia?” 


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''Artus,” said Decius, ''thy face beams with mine ! 
How near indeed thou art to us that our joys and 
sorrows so affect thee.” 

The tribune replied : 

"Decius, I have received another welcome gift 
from life. Thou knowest the one thing for which 
I craved these many years ?” 

"Madman, what words are these?” asked the 
startled Decius, "Can it be that ” 

"Aye, Decius, read,” said Artus, as he took from 
within the folds of his tunic a tablet, the contents 
of which had become engrossed on his mind, word 
for word. In amazement Decius read, arose to his 
feet and, approaching Artus, said quietly : 

"I am too glad for words. Thy son holds a place 
in my heart even before I see him, and we will make 
of him a man worthy of Rome.” 

Decia did not comprehend the meaning of all this 
nor in her returning wistfulness did she strive for 
enlightenment. She was gratified at this interrup- 
tion to the constant attention required of her. Hei 
thoughts were elsewhere ! 


CHAPTER XXXI 


Aegea had seen naught of the apparent “rejuvena- 
tion” of Decia. The nurse, true to her promise to 
Glaccus, and realizing her efforts to be unavailing, 
had left the daughter of Decius and walked slowly 
to the riistica, where she found the ex-gladiator sit- 
ting engrossed in gloomy thought. 

“Greeting, and a thousand welcomes !” he said. 

“A greeting to thee, Glaccus. How dost thou 
feel this day?” 

“Stronger in body,” he replied, “yet weak in mind 
— from inaction. Would that the moment were here 
for Decius to send me forth! Today I plowed the 
field to kill time. Yesterday I cut vines. I cannot 
sleep unless I am overtaxed with exertion. My 
walks each morn no more attract me!” 

He did not tell the reason, however, nor that the 
vacant place at the stream had made his heart 
leaden, — that the songs of the birds in the trees 
no longer sounded as gladsome music. She noted 
the sad and disappointed expression on that here- 
tofore hopeful countenance. With a shrug of his 
shoulders he turned to her as if to chase away un- 
welcome thoughts, and added: 

“Thou hast not told me how fares the daughter 
of Decius, nor what disease it is that makes the 
senator grieve? I have not seen him for days! 

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Does the maiden mend with thy gentle nursing, 
Aegea ?” 

“Alas, no. It is a strange disease and one not 
of the body. I think it is some hidden grief, the 
nature of which none can discover. The most 
learned physicians of Rome, including the famous 
Greek, have said that she suffers from no disease !” 

“How strange!” exclaimed Glaccus. “How did 
it start? What are the symptoms?” 

“There are no symptoms save these, that she lies 
throughout the days and nights inactive, and in 
apparent drowsiness. At times she will not even 
answer questions of her father! It is a most pe- 
culiar case. The senator thinks that some one has 
cast the evil eye upon her, though he is no man of 
superstition.” 

“When was she first ill?” persisted the now in- 
terested Glaccus. 

“The tenth day back. — That very day on which 
I moved from here, she came running into the 
garden, screaming that she ‘had seen an evil man !’ 
’Twas past midday. She fell fainting near the 
portico. Handmaids lifted her and summoned De- 
cius. Since that moment she takes no interest in 
anything.” 

“How long didst thou say she has been ill?” 
queried Glaccus. 

“Since the tenth day back, after midday.” 

Glaccus reeled as though he had been struck. 
Recovering himself, however, he leaned against the 
bench. Beads of perspiration stood out on his 
forehead, his face suddenly became drawn, and his 
jaws set. 

“What trick of fate is this?” he asked himself. 


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He chased some unwelcome thought from him, how- 
ever, as he reasoned : 

“Ah, I see it all ! It is the illness of the 'domina’ 
that has kept the slave-girl from me! Perchance 
she will come to me again when the daughter of 
Decius has recovered. Thanks to the gods for 
the hope!’’ 

“What ails thee?” asked Aegea. 

“Naught! indeed, why dost thou ask?” 

“I thought I saw thee become confused at my 
words?” 

Ignoring her reply, Glaccus asked gently: 

“Tell me, Aegea. I have never seen the daugh- 
ter of Decius. Is she strong and heavy like her 
father ?” Aegea laughed. 

“Heavy? Nay, that she is not, but rather young 
and frail. She is fair indeed, beautiful as a pic- 
ture. She is not as high as thy breast.” 

“And Decius is so great and strong!” remarked 
Glaccus. 

“Dost thou forget the part her mother played?” 
laughed Aegea. 

“Alas, methinks I did! Yet thou didst say she 
was fair. Describe her to me.” 

“Well, her beautiful white face is surmounted 
by hair of glorious gold, such as I have never seen 
before. She hath dark eyes, — a wonderful com- 
bination! Her teeth are white and even and set 
behind a tiny mouth, formed as a rosebud. Were 
I a man methinks Fd cut my way through the 
Parthians to kiss those lips. She often wears a 
chaplet of lilies. Her hair is held in place by a 
comb set with a gem that looks like blue glass, yet, 
— his a priceless gift that Decius ” 


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Aegea did not continue, however, for Glaccus 
had suddenly covered his face with his arms. 

“Glaccus,” she cried, “what ails thee?” 

“Aegea,” he said, “I am stricken — stricken — 
with a sudden weakness. Methinks I — toiled too 
long in the fields to-day.” 

She hastily brought him some wine. 

“Thou shalt seek thy bed immediately, Glaccus, 
and rest to-morrow the entire day.” 

She returned to the portico only after she had 
seen the light in his room extinguished. 

Soon afterwards Glaccus came out into the moon- 
light. 

“She said she saw an evil man, — and so she did ! 
It was I ! She saw Mecinia pressed to me ! Gods ! 
thou knowest I am innocent, — yet henceforth she 
will condemn me forever! ‘My nymph,’ the daugh- 
ter of Decius, — and no slave! In the blindness of 
my love I did not see it all, yet poorly indeed have 
I repaid her for her gentleness!” 

He walked out into the night. 

“She played with my heart. I loved her and 
she knew it. She said she was a slave! ’Twas 
wrong, wrong!” 

He spent the entire night wandering aimlessly 
through the grounds. Morning found him pale 
and hollow-eyed. In utter weariness he threw him- 
self upon his couch, and it was there that Aegea 
found him the following evening when she came to 
tell him of the miraculous apparent recovery of the 
daughter of Decius through the efforts of Artus. 
Glaccus was buried in the sleep of exhaustion, 
however, and therefore she did not awaken him. 


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Soon his eyes opened, and seeing her, he sprang 
up and said: 

“Aegea, wilt thou do for me a service ? Wilt thou 
say to Decius that I would set forth on the mor- 
row ?” 


CHAPTER XXXII 


Artus rose at dawn the following morning. He 
had passed a restless and anxious night, beset by- 
anxiety as to the character of his long lost son. He 
had received no information as to the identity of 
this youth; did not know whether the latter had 
been adopted perchance into some family of rank 
or else had been dragged from the gutters. He 
sprang from his couch and with troubled brow 
walked up and down his ciibiculuni. He could en- 
dure the confines of his room no longer, and en- 
tered the peristyle where the cool air of the early 
morn somewhat refreshed him. The rays of the 
rising sun soon imparted a touch of radiance to the 
scene. Artus summoned Hercules, to whom he said : 

‘‘Canst thou help to soothe my nerves with ac- 
tion? Let us wrestle.” 

His startled slave, whose eyes were still heavy 
with sleep, obeyed nevertheless with alacrity, and 
soon master and slave were straining sinew and 
drawing the sweat of arduous effort through all 
pores. 

^Xoosen, master,” cried the slave, ‘‘By Tarann! 
thou hadst — the — strangle-hold!” 

Artus relaxed his muscles and they both arose, 
the chest of the slave heaving. 

“Lord, thou hast strength this morn!” he said. 

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“ ’Tis not Strength, Hercules, — but anxiety that 
did win for me.” 

Once more they grappled for the second bout. 
Artus soon tired of this pastime, however, and after 
a visit to his frigidarium, partook of his usual 
Spartan repast of the morning. It was while he 
was thus engaged that Eurycele found him. 

‘‘My Artus,” she said, “thou dost eat as a ma- 
chine, — art staring straight ahead ! Cease, else wilt 
thou empty the larder!” and laughingly she ap- 
proached and kissed him. 

“The hours drag!” he said. 

“I heard thee throughout the entire night,” she 
continued, “but did not disturb thee. Thou didst 
arise soon after cock-crow! I know thy task is 
hard to wait thus, yet remember pulcherrima, at 
any moment now, he will come.” 

At each appearance of a slave Artus would arise 
in hopes of hearing the announcement of the ar- 
rival of his son. At last he was rewarded. The 
atriensis, or slave who had charge of the atrium, 
entered hurriedly: 

“Lord,” he said, “a youth who says he is thy son, 
desires to see thee!” 

“Let him enter,” said Artus, almost in a whisper. 

The expectant father grasped the wrist of Eury- 
cele who was seated beside him on the marble 
bench, — grasped it in a hold so tight, she could 
have screamed from pain, but she pressed her lips 
together tightly and looked tenderly upon him with 
the love of ages in her eyes. The peristyle became 
a place of silence, — a silence disturbed only by the 
sound of approaching footsteps as the atriensis con- 
ducted a youth through the opening between the 


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atrium and the peristyle, the curtain having been 
partly drawn aside. 

Bassus entered. He was comely and his curly 
black hair intensified, as it were, the sparkle of his 
eyes, which, however, was caused by the excite- 
ment, for they usually lacked lustre. Deep rims 
beneath them denoted over-indulgence. His limbs 
were lean, indicating waste through improper 
habits. His carriage was one of confidence, though 
of but little grace. His whole bearing, however, 
was characterized by a certain effeminacy which 
likewise denoted the lack of stability of character. 
Artus observed all these things at a glance, but 
reasoned : 

*'How else then could it be with a youth, father- 
less and motherless! ’Tis not I who should con- 
demn !’' 

In the hushed excitement of the moment Bassus 
stood there irresolute, not knowing the next move 
to make, or word to say, as he looked at Artus. 

The latter, however, arose, and opening his arms 
said: ‘‘Come!’’ 

Bassus lost no time and threw his arms about 
Artus in a manner which he had practiced for sev- 
eral days past. 

“Have wine brought for thy new master,” said 
the tribune to the atriensis. 

With a look of amazement in his eyes, the slave 
hastened away and soon returned with goblets and 
Falernian. 

There was a peculiar current of dissatisfaction, 
as it were, in the very atmosphere, and a certain 
constraint fell upon them all. 

“My son,” said Artus, who was the first to break 


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the silence, ‘'this is the lady Eurycele, who holds 
the first and only place in my love/^ 

Bassus approached Eurycele, whose extended hand 
he pressed to his lips. Thus far he had played his 
part well. Artus turned to Eurycele and said: 

“Leave us, yet stray not far. I will call thee 
soon.’’ 

“Bassus,” said Artus, when she had left, “thou 
art my son, and as such shouldst keep no secrets 
from thy father. Tell me all thou knowest — all.” 

Bassus drew from the folds of his tunic a scroll, 
that was sealed, and which had been prepared by 
Donatus. It was supposed to be the dying confes- 
sion of the mother of Bassus. 

“Regus gave me this for thee,” said Bassus. “I 
do not know its contents.” 

And Artus mused, “Regus! Regus! would that 
thou hadst been my long lost son!” Aloud he 
said : 

“Bassus, with the words of Regus to back thee, 
no further proof is necessary.” 

He broke the seal, however, and carefully read 
the scroll. It told of the love of the woman for 
her seducer, of the birth of the child, and her deser- 
tion of it because of poverty. The words on the 
scroll had ended in the middle of a sentence ! Bas- 
sus spoke again. 

“Regus said that the author of it died as it was 
being written.” The lips of Artus quivered, but 
he said : 

“Bassus, tell me of thy life. Hast thou lived in 
Rome always?” 

“Aye, father, and the first that I can remember 
is being carried by my mother and left at some big 


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house. I was then, I judge, about five years old. 
A lady of some wealth cared for me, — after a 
fashion! In time I tired of her cruelties and ran 
out into the gutters. I have done everything to 
earn my bread, but lately I have played at dice for 
a living. I am expert at the game, and I know a 
trick or two. Indeed, I have made a somewhat 
comfortable living!” 

At hearing these words Artus frowned, arose 
from his seat and walked silently up and down the 
peristyle. 

‘‘Father,” shouted the subtle Bassus, “do not 
condemn me. One must live ! The nights are cool, 
— at certain seasons. I know, for I have felt them !” 

At these words the face of Artus softened. He 
approached Bassus and placed his right hand on the 
shoulder of the youth. 

“My son,” he said, “I do not condemn thee.” 

He despatched a slave to summon Hercules, who 
soon entered. 

“Here is another master for thee to wrestle with, 
for he is my son.” 

Hercules looked at the youth, his amazement 
betrayed by the expression in his eyes. 

“My son, I will show thee a new life and habits 
that will make of thee a man — as man should be. 
I warrant, Hercules,” he continued, turning to the 
. slave, “he could not choke thee as I did this morn, 
yet thou shalt see to it that he improves. A great 
gold piece for thee on the day he shows a little 
more chest!” 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


The evening found Artus sorely disappointed in 
his son. Bassus, in his endeavours to be enter- 
taining to his father and Eurycele, had but suc- 
ceeded in being insipid. He talked of dice, or 
women of evil fame, and of bloody games. Much 
of this conversation entirely escaped the ears of 
Artus, who was engrossed in his own thoughts. 
The face of Eurycele, always a mirror of her mind, 
had taken on an expression akin to annoyance. 
Eventually Bassus said : 

“Wilt thou permit me to leave now? I have 
some business that requires my attention and must 
get my clothes and things.^’ 

“Wind up thy business, Bassus,'^ Artus replied, 
“but thy garments and things leave behind thee. A 
new life for thee starts here!” 

“But, father,” argued Bassus, “I have many 
things I value. I have a sword which bears the 
stains of the blood of ‘The Supurbus' who was 
slain that day in the arena, — a most famous gladi- 
ator! Too, I have a jewelled goblet that once 
touched the lips of Illyria, the famous concubine 
of ” 

“Cease, Bassus!” said Artus, “leave such things 
behind thee! Bring the sword if so thou desirest 
end I hope the sight of it will inspire in thee the 
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197 


ambition to own an arm capable of using such a 
weapon. Bring what thy hands can carry, — no 
more. Return ere the second vigil.” 

‘‘Thanks, father. It will be as thou sayest,7 re- 
plied Bassus. 

As he walked thoughtfully through the Janicu- 
lum, however, he mused : 

“Methinks Donatus has found me no father, but 
a master! Well, so be it I get sufficient money, I 
care not what he is. Now for the dice! Fortune 
smile upon me and I vow thee a new-born calf !” 

The more he thought about the change in his 
affairs, however, the less he liked it, and he decided 
to go immediately to the house of Donatus, to tell 
the senator of his reception. 

He was ushered into the atrium of Donatus and 
a serious frown still adorned his countenance. 

“Greeting, Bassus,” said the senator, who con- 
ducted him to the summer triclinium where they 
found Mecinia. 

“Greeting to the beautiful lady Fortunse,” said 
Bassus. He did not smile, however. 

“Greeting, Bassus,” she said, “yet why thy 
frowns? Thy face bears no sign of joy at seeing 
thy father, — nay, one would think that hadst been 
to a funeral!” 

Donatus laughed, but Bassus remained silent. 

“ ’Tis easy to perceive that the son has not 
learned, as yet, to love the father. Tell us of thy 
visit, Bassus?” 

“My generous patron,” replied the youth, “while 
I thank thee with heart full of gratitude, in truth I 
tell thee thou hast not found for me a father but a 
master, — and too, I will be legally under the patria 


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potestas! And what dost thou think? He hath a 
slave six times as large as thou art! This slave I 
am to wrestle with twice each day! Gods! once 
would suffice to kill me!’' 

At these words Mecinia shrieked with laughter, 
which was renewed when she beheld the frightened 
expression on the face of “the long lost son.” Do- 
natus, who had joined in her mirth, said : 

“ ’Twas worth all the trouble and expense, Bas- 
sus, but to see FortunEe laugh thus !” 

“Yet, by Hecate! 'tis no laughing matter for me! 
The slave hath muscles round as yonder pillars; 
indeed, they call him ‘Hercules !’ Methinks he likes 
me not. He has a most fierce expression when he 
looks at me! Mayhap he thinks one master such 
as my father doth quite suffice ! For thinking thus, 
I blame him not. He said my father nearly choked 
him this very morn, so strong is this Artus! Be- 
twixt them both they’ll surely kill me ! I’ll not go 
back! I’ll not go back!” 

Even the fear of a possible upsetting of their 
plans did not restrain the laughter of his auditors, 
as Bassus walked up and down the peristyle in 
great excitement, telling them of his fears and not 
hesitating to grossly exaggerate the facts. 

“Aye, thou canst laugh, yet hear me. Artus did 
say ‘strip him.’ Gods, I knew not but that he 
meant split him! With no gentle touch, this bar- 
barian Ajax did it. The elephant rent my gar- 
ments from me and my father dug his fingers in my 
stomach, my arms, my back, my chest, and prom- 
ised that the beast of a slave would be rewarded 
with gold if he made me strong! Thou, Donatus, 
canst perceive that there is but one condition to 


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the reward; I must needs live through it, which I 
vow by Pollux! I could not, — nor will I even try. 
I leave Rome this very night. I’ll not go back!” 

Eventually Donatus grew impatient. 

^‘Bassus, thou art a two-legged ass. Thy very 
reception augurs future wealth and power for thee. 
Ere many days have passed Artus will be a praetor ; 
even now he is comfortably rich and through De- 
cius, is in high favour with the Consul Taurus, and 
will be with Augustus when the princeps returns. 
Canst thou not in thy mind’s eye, Bassus, obtain 
one glimpse of what thy life will be henceforth? 
Wouldst lose all because thou dost fear a slave, 
who is bound by all the laws to fall flat upon his 
belly at thy word? I enjoy thy words as a jest, 
yet cannot think that thou art serious in thy fears.” 

“Yet, I will not wrestle with him!” 

“Verbex! There is no need to wrestle with him; 
thou canst slay him if thou so desirest. Now tell 
us of how thy father greeted thee.” 

Bassus told the details, not omitting to refer fre- 
quently to the great size ‘of Hercules. Donatus 
said : 

“Obey thy father until thou hast trained him to 
obey thee. I will tell thee how to do it. To-morrow 
thou canst find excuses — not to wrestle. Mean- 
while thank the gods and me, who have made thy 
fortune. Fail not to report to me each second day 
with all the information thou canst gather, — as 
thou didst promise.” 

Before the close of the second vigil, Bassus re- 
turned to the house of Artus. 

“Bassus,” said Artus, “Morpheus rest thee! We 
arise at daybreak each morn.” 


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Slowly the tribune walked from the librarium. 
Bassus stood there apparently transfixed. 

“At daybreak! First they would kill me by 
wrestling, then slay me by lack of sleep. At day- 
break! The hour at which I am wont to retire! 
Ten thousand curses of Cerebus and Hecate on the 
damned soul of Donatus!’’ 


CHAPTER XXXIV 


A week later, Artus and Bassus visited the villa 
of Decius. It was the first time the latter had ever 
been to the villa. They were reclining in the sum- 
mer triclinium. Decius said : 

^^Methinks that as a worshipper of Bacchus, Bas- 
sus excels his sire!” 

The wine had flowed freely. The comparatively 
simple dife led by Artus, however, had never weaned 
him from moderation. Decius had always been a 
heavy drinker, though he seldom showed ill effects 
from his indulgence. Decia was permitted to touch 
only the lightest of wines and of these, very little. 

''Of this trait in the character of Bassus I am 
not proud,” said Artus. "Yet I hope to lead him 
into good habits. Excess in anything, as thou 
knowest, is not commendable. Then, too, Decius, 
forget not that he does not own thy great stomach 
nor thy massive frame to carry the contents of many 
of thy generous goblets!” 

At last Decius arose and walked out into the 
garden with Artus. 

When they had left Bassus said to Decia : 

"Dost thou know how beautiful thou art, Decia?” 

Instinctively, as it were, Decia compared his ef- 
feminate voice with that of Glaccus. The ex-gladi- 
ator’s strong frame, firm jaws and courage had 
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likewise not been without impression. For the 
sake of Artus, however, she concealed her smile of 
disdain and answered: 

‘‘Truly, Bassus, thou canst not compare my rustic 
beauty with that of the great ladies of Rome whom 
thou hast met?” 

Bassus answered enthusiastically: “Thy beauty 
is so wonderful because it is all thine and — and — 
canst thou keep a secret? I love thee!” 

“Truly thou dost jest, Bassus, and I am angry. 
’Tis wrong to jest on such matters. Say thou art 
sorry else I will tell thy father!” 

“Nay, Decia, tell him not! He would be angry, 
most angry I know, yet, by Aphrodite ! I vow I love 
thee! Thou art so beautiful!” 

Decia, annoyed, with difficulty refrained from 
saying: “I would hate thee wert thou not the 
son of Artus !” 

She again resolved that for the sake of the father 
she would be patient with the son. She compared 
the words of the youth to those of Glaccus, even 
though the latter was “an evil man,” and she sighed 
audibly. 

Bassus, misinterpreting the sigh to indicate that 
his words had not been without impression, con- 
tinued : 

“Thou art not angry at me because I love thee?” 

“Bassus,” said Decia, “speak of this some other 
time, not now, — not now.” 

“Some other time, sayest thou? Then I may 
hope! Thanks, goddess, thanks! What other time 
dost thou mean?” 

Annoyed at his insistence, and now out of all 
patience, Decia did not spare him. 


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203 


“When the Gauls plunder Rome again !” she said. 

The face of Bassus flushed with anger, coupled 
with humiliation. Rome was now in the zenith of 
her glory ! 

Fortunately Artus and Decius returned at that 
moment and as father and son walked in the garden 
together, Artus asked: 

“What dost thou think of the daughter of De- 
cius? Canst thou blame him for keeping her con- 
fined outside the walls of Rome?” 

“I do blame him, father, I do blame him! She 
would shine in Rome as a radiant star of beauty. 
Who knows but that some day she would even 
conquer the Augustus himself I” 

The face of Artus flushed with shame at the 
words of Bassus, and he said coldly : 

“In this thou art mistaken, Bassus; the Caesar 
has seen her several times and had her on his knees 
when she was a child. He does love her, yet not as 
thou dost mean. She is the child of Decius, a man 
whose friendship he prizes as much as that of any 
other man, and, too, I tell thee, thou dost wrong 
the Caesar. He is the greatest man in this world. 
Such men do not reckon by passion!” 


CHAPTER XXXV 

It was evening at the ru\stica of Decius where 
Glaccus languished in impatience and uncertainty. 
He had learned that on the morrow Decia was to 
visit Rome for the first time. The weeks that had 
elapsed since he had first become aware of the 
identity of the “slave girl’* had indeed been sad 
ones for him. In compliance with his earnest re- 
quest Aegea had at the first opportunity broached 
to Decius the matter of the proposed mission of 
Glaccus, but the senator said : 

“Tell Glaccus to nurse his strength a little 
longer.” 

Then came the bolt of disappointment, for De- 
cius visited Glaccus one day, — the very evening that 
Artus had told the senator of the recovery of the 
long lost son. The senator walked slowly across 
the bridge leading to the rustica. 

“How can I tell the ambitious Glaccus that the 
mission is now no longer necessary ? My clue must 
indeed have been a false one, for the son is found ! 
Therefore, it must have been another legend of the 
Tenth Legion!” 

He despatched a slave to summon the youth. 

“Glaccus, I have bad news for thee, yet perchance 
the gods so will it for thy welfare. The proposed 
journey is no longer necessary. What shall I do 
with thee?” 


204 


9s tfte (Sods Decree 


205 


“What words are these! No journey for me!’* 
said Glaccus in tones of bitterest disappointment. 

“Even as thou sayest, Glaccus, — no journey!’’ 

“What canst thou do with me? ’Tis simple. I 
will leave, — yet I return not to the gladiators’ bar- 
racks,” and he laughed harshly. 

Appreciating the fact of the youth’s disappoint- 
ment, Decius pitied him. 

“Glaccus,” said Decius gently, “I like thy metal. 
What dost thou desire? Artus says each man on 
earth owes something to another.” 

“And mine is a mountainous debt to thee,” said 
Glaccus, as he looked appreciatively at Decius. 

“Cease, Glaccus, and speak thy wish. Wouldst 
thou tarry here in my service ? I can use thee, — or 
wouldst thou join the legions? I’ll give thee three 
days to think upon it, yet methinks thou art not yet 
strong enough to bear arms.” 

Decius recrossed the bridge and gave final orders 
for the journey to Rome on the morrow. 

The weeks had been long and weary ones for the 
youth. Some days he toiled at the plow, or at cut- 
ting down trees for winter fire wood ; on others, he 
did naught but lie for hours at that cherished spot 
by the stream, living again in his dreams the “mo- 
ments of life,” as he termed them, now gone, — 
gone forever. One thought, however, consoled him, 
and saved him from despair. 

“She had become ill at seeing another in his 
arms! Then surely she must have borne love for 
him, — at least until the moment that she saw evi- 
dence of his supposed guilt.” 

He calmed himself, with the recollection that 
his “nymph,” his “slave” was none other than a 


206 


as tbe <$oEis Decwe 


great lady, the daughter of a senator, and that 
senator, Decius! 

Then he would sigh and a soft light would creep 
into his eyes as he thought: 

‘'She trusted me, for she came to me again!'’ 

Thus the weeks had passed in contrasts of ardu- 
ous manual labor, as he strove to forget, and quiet- 
ude of thought, as he struggled to remember each 
word that had come from her sweet lips, as he 
pictured her that morning he had last seen her. 

One day, however, the ex-gladiator shrugged his 
shoulders and said, half aloud : 

“I care not what becomes of me ! Suffice it that 
action plays the part and that distance lies between 
me and this spot. I would forget, I would forget! 
O, that the gods would help me in this 1” 


CHAPTER XXXVI 


A young woman was pacing up and down near 
the approach to the Pons Fabricius. 

Ere long, she was approached by a man whose 
face was muffled. He walked nervously, with hes- 
itating steps, glancing now and again backwards 
to see if he had perchance been followed. 

“Is it thee, Bassus,” she asked tremulously. 

“Aye, who else would be such a fool to thus risk 
discovery !” 

The unkindness of his words prompted the wo- 
man to lay her hand on his arm, gently, even ca- 
ressingly ! 

“Be not angry with me, Bassus, yet, — Bassus, it 
is not long since thou didst come to me unbidden 
and of thine own free will.” She then wept softly. 

“I am not denying it, am I,” he retorted, “yet 
what is the business ? Quick, I must return. Thou 
knowest that now I am the son of Artus, who on 
the morrow takes his oath as a praetor.” 

“O, Bassus, that is my fear! Yet thou didst win 
my love when thou wert plain Bassus^ — and — I de- 
nied thee naught, and- — and — thou didst promise to 
marry me.” 

“Marriage!” he said, ‘‘aye, that I did, yet now 
thou knowest ^tis impossible. My father is of too 
high a rank. I cannot marry a plebian. Weep not, 
207 


208 3 g tlie (goQg Decree 

for ’twill be of no avail, I cannot, — will not marry 
thee!” 

“Yet, Bassus,” she continued pleadingly, “think 
of the life I now lead in the shop. The vile Drago- 
mus annoys me and sneers because — because — I — 
think — he — 'knows. He has even threatened me, if 
I comply not with his vile wishes. O, Bassus, dost 
thou no longer love me, that thou canst hear me 
tell this and yet offer me no word of kindness ?” 

“Nydia, I regret, aye, regret most deeply, — yet 
I am powerless to aid thee. My father gives me 
very little money.” 

“But, Bassus, dear Bassus, hast thou no pity for 
me? Canst thou not see that I am ill?” 

Impatiently and with hasty glances in all direc- 
tions, Bassus delved into the folds of his tunic and 
took therefrom a small purse. 

“Go, then, and consult a physician,” he said' as 
he attempted to press the purse into her hands. 

“No, Bassus, no! Give me not money for that 
which I gave thee freely. Thou didst promise to 
marry me! Bassus, O, Bassus, canst thou not 
guess ?” 

“Fool, fool,” he said, and in his rage he struck 
her, as the full meaning of her words sunk into his 
mind. 

“O, Bassus,” she screamed, “thou hast struck 
me!” 

He attempted to tear her hand from his shoulder 
and to make a hasty retreat. She screamed, not 
realizing at the moment the possible results of dis- 
covery. Her cries were heard by one of the noc- 
turnal apparitores who chanced to be near by and 
he grasped Bassus in a firm hold. 


3$ tU <goDg Decree 209 

“Didst thou cry for help?” he asked the young 
woman. 

She was silent. 

“Nay, ’twas I,” said Bassus, “she waylaid me — 
and — I struck in self-defense,” said the now fright- 
ened and perplexed Bassus. 

The woman was now holding her hand to her 
face, for it pained her. 

“Come with me, coward !” said the man to Bassus. 

“Dare not to arrest me !” said Bassus, “dost thou 
know who I am? I am the son of Artus, the 
praetor. Dare not to arrest me!” 

“Dare not, sayest thou? I would take thee to 
the Tullianum wert thou even the son of the prin^ 
ceps who I vow would ne’er beget a coward such 
as thou !” On raising his lantern the man noted the 
young woman’s face, which indeed did not betoken 
that she was a robber of the highways! 

“Thou, too, shalt come with me, poor maiden, — 
as witness,” he said softly. 

“Maiden indeed!” sneered Bassus. “Thou wilt 
suffer roundly for this arrest !” 

“Hold thy tongue, coward,” said the watch, “else 
I will crack thy teeth! Walk before me!” 

“Here, take my purse,” said Bassus. “I will 
give thee more on the morrow. Let me go !” 

The watch gave him a glance of scorn. “Cow- 
ard!” he exclaimed. 

That night Bassus was confined in the barracks of 
the nocturnal triummri capitales. He had lost his 
purse or else it had been stolen from him, and he 
was therefore unable to send any message to friends 
for help. Even had he had the power, he would 
have feared to inform Artus of his arrest. 


CHAPTER XXXVII 


At dawn of the following morning the villa of 
Decius presented a scene of unwonted activity. On 
this day Artus was to take his oath at the temple 
and wear for the first time, the praetexta of the 
praetorship. Decius had resolved to fittingly cele- 
brate the event by taking Decia to Rome. He had 
sent messages to various relatives, clients, and 
freedmen, stating his wish that they should gather 
and await him in the early morn at the grove of 
the Camoeiiae outside the Porta Capena, for the 
purpose of escorting him on important business. 
None who received word hesitated to obey the sum- 
mons and many told their friends. Though not know- 
ing the nature of the business, it sufficed that the 
noble senator Decius, their patron, loved and re- 
spected by all, — their protector and pillar of refuge 
in their difficulties, — desired their presence. Soon 
after sunrise, the grove was filled with impatient 
watchers. As minute succeeded minute, the num- 
ber was increased to hundreds. 

At the villa activity was manifest in every de- 
partment. Handmaids rushed hither and thither 
with joyous shouts and laughter. Slaves busied 
themselves about the stables, harnessing Gallic pal- 
freys to rhedae, and other fast horses to petorrita 
for the journey. The finest steeds of Decius, with 
210 


30 tfte 00 D0 Decree 


211 


silver trimmed trappings, were harnessed to his 
handsomest chariot, which was trimmed with silver. 
Decia, in her gracefully draped stola, white as the 
lilies of Hebron, and covered by a light paenula, 
reclined on the cushions of the great rheda, with its 
purple hangings and protected from the sun by a 
hood of leather. Her companion was none other 
than Aegea, for between these two a strong affec- 
tion had been formed in their brief companionship. 
Numidian riders vaulted on their light steeds and 
led the procession, riding two abreast. About a 
score of mounted freedmen in the employ of Decius, 
followed. Then came the senator, who frequently 
turned about in his chariot, his face beaming with 
happiness as he looked upon the rheda containing 
Decia and Aegea, which followed him. Then came 
several rhedae and other vehicles, containing hand- 
maids of Decia, and groups of other young slave- 
girls, all brightly attired. These were in turn fol- 
lowed by two larger vehicles filled with roses, vio- 
lets, lilies, crocusses and gladiolas that had been 
picked from the gardens that very morn. Mounted 
slaves, followed by freedmen, brought up the rear. 
The cortege travelled speedily. The view of Rome 
was not obstructed on the journey, for only the 
arches of the aqueducts ran toward the city. Ere 
an hour had elapsed, they had arrived within a mile 
of the Porta Capena. A courier galloped ahead to 
tell the waiting crowd in the grove of the approach 
of their patron. Even before Decius could distinguish 
them, however, a loud shout greeted his ears. A 
few moments later he discarded his paenula, and a 
slave called vestiplica, draped his toga which was 
woven of the softest and whitest Milesian wool. He 


212 ag tbt (goag Decree 

addressed the waiting crowd from his chariot as 
follows : — 

'‘Thanks, brothers and friends, for thy numbers. 
Ye have greeted me before at triumph, yet as ye 
see me now, I am equally as proud and happy, for 
this day I celebrate a double event. My daughter, 
the lady Decia here, comes to Rome. ’Tis the first 
time she will pass the walls since she was a babe 
in arms!” 

The crowd shouted and cheered. Decius raised 
his hand for silence and continued : 

“She comes to join me and all of us, in doing 
honor to my friend, the new praetor Artus, whose 
scars, as ye know, reflect the courage and glory of 
Roman arms.” 

More cheers, coupled with shouts of “Noble 
Artus!” rose on the air. 

“It is my wish,” continued Decius, “that ye, one 
and all, follow me to wait upon the new praetor 
as he comes into the Forum Boarium, and — to fit- 
tingly escort him to the temple. Later in the day I 
will provide entertainment for ye, — games, at which 
champions will show their prowess, — nor will thy 
throats go parched nor thy stomachs empty.” 

Enthusiastic cheers for Decius, Artus and the lady 
Decia greeted these words ; when the roar had sub- 
sided, Decius continued: 

“Now form orderly ranks and follow me. Let 
Rome hear her citizens cheer, as they did the day 
Camillus reached the Forum and saved her from 
the bloody greed of Brennus’s sword!” 

Amf'idst continued cheers and enthusiasm, the 
horsemen dismounted, and continuing two abreast, 
passed through the Capenan gate, followed by a 


as tbt (Sods Decree 213 


lectica, borne by six stalwart Syrian slaves, which 
contained Decia and Aegea. The procession was 
joined by numerous idlers and curiosity seekers as 
it passed near the long extending walls of the 
Circus Maximus, situated between the Aventine and 
Palatine hills, the temples and other buildings on 
which towered on either side, and continued on its 
way to the Forum Boarium. Couriers had been 
despatched to summon Artus, whose face became 
illumined with pleasure when he saw the throng 
there to welcome him in the great square. Forget- 
ting his dignity in the excitement of the moment, he 
ran forward hastily as the crowd made way for 
him, and grasped the extended wrist of Decius. At 
that moment he likewise spied Decia and Aegea in 
the litter, which had been set down on the ground. 

The crowd shouted at this entire lack of ostenta- 
tion on the part of the new incumbent of so high 
an office. 

‘‘Long live the noble Praetor Artus!’’ shouted 
one, and the cry was repeated from hundreds of 
throats. At a signal from Decius, handmaids and 
other slaves threw flowers on the ground, and Artus 
and Decius, followed by the procession, continued 
on their way to the Forum Boarium, walking over 
a veritable bed of roses, violets and other flowers. 

Eurycele, who unperceived had come upon the 
scene, watched these doing with palpitating heart; 
her face, however, wore an expression of pride and 
joy. Indeed one could have seen that her glances 
betokened little less than worship of her lord, whose 
praetexta she had but recently draped, for she would 
not permit any hands save hers to perform the 
duties of the vesHplica, 


214 


30 tije <©oD0 Decree 


Preceded by the freedmen walking shoulder to 
shoulder, the procession moved onward. By previ- 
ous arrangement, a number of flute players, singers, 
and female slaves walked behind the freedmen, 
the women strewing flowers before Artus, upon 
whose brow Decius had placed a chaplet. Occa- 
sionally, and at a given signal, the flute players and 
choristers ceased their music and the sound of 
trumpets, the tuba and litans, ringing forth the 
charge, — was borne through the air. It signified 
that the recipient of these honours had seen active 
service in campaigns. Decius now walked beside 
the litter that contained Decia and Aegea and which 
was surrounded by the handmaids who were in 
turn protected on all sides by slaves and clients of 
the senator. Then followed the cheering hundreds, 
borne along by the excitement, coupled with the 
enthusiasm of Decius himself, — and too, their hopes 
for entertainment at the games he had promised 
them later in the day ! 

This journey was indeed an event in the life of 
Decia, and one that ranked second only in import- 
ance to her meeting with Glaccus at the stream, and 
at times her thoughts wandered to the youth* 

^ Would that he were here now that I could but 
see him !” she thought, but her eyes were sparkling 
with excitement, and she turned to Aegea and said : 

“O, how wonderful and beautiful it is! How I 
wish that I could live here always !” And Aegea re- 
plied : 

‘Tt is because the scenes are new to thee. I, 
who have lived here always, have learned the truer 
value of thy father's villa, where love and sincerity 
rule. In Rome, all is hollow, pomp and show, and 


30 tfte 0000 Decree 


215 


vice governs! I sometimes wonder that the very 
gods do not cry out in shame!” 

‘‘Aegea,” said Decia, “thou shalt not spoil my 
pleasure this day, I warn thee.” 

“Ah, Decia,” replied the nurse, “that is not my 
desire, yet I would have thee truly value only that 
which is real.” 

The journey was a revelation to Decia. The de- 
scription she had heard conveyed an idea of but a 
thousandth part of all she now saw. They crossed 
the Forum Boarium and entered the Vicus Tuscus, 
the street given to the forlorn and defeated Etrus- 
cans in the early days of Rome upon which to build 
their homes. Passing the Temple of Castor at 
their right, they arrived at “The Street of Rome,” — 
the Sacra Via, whose stones tell the story of the life 
of the city. The Sacra Via! The way of all the 
triumphs and the deaths of Roman greatness ! Here 
the processions of victory, of the festivals, of fu- 
nerals, marched past. As the cortege of Decius was 
about to enter the Sacra Via, however, it chanced 
that Decia was enabled to witness for the first time, 
a festival procession in honor of one of the many 
deities. The sound of melodious notes was borne 
to her ears, and she stood upright in the litter and 
looked upon the procession as it moved past. Youths 
led the way, followed by musicians, players of flutes 
and lyres, who made music for the dancers that 
followed. Some of the latter, decked with goat- 
skins and crowned with branches of the pine, repre- 
sented fauns ; more musicians preceded the carriers 
of incense, and through the perfumed smoke left in 
their wake could be seen the gold and silver objects 
carried in honour of the deity. Nobles followed, 


216 


as tht ©oDS Decree 


dragging on small carriages images of the gods. 
Speechless at the beautiful sights, awed by the 
scenes of activity, the music, the laughter, the joy 
of life, Decia was entranced by the new picture now 
spread out before her, but she was soon borne past 
the temple of Castor and they entered the forum 
Romanum, that wondrous “oblong of the world,'’ 
the scene and the story of Rome’s rise and fall. 
Surrounded by porticos, embellished by statues 
and columns, the neighboring heights crowned by 
temples and magnificent buildings, it told its story; 
the story read by Decia and taught to her by the 
paid tutors during the course of her education. Yet 
could she have grasped by mere words the impres- 
siveness and glory of it all? Could she have imag- 
ined the beauty of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, 
dedicated to the worship of Jupiter, Juno and Min- 
erva on the mons Capitolinus? Its roof of golden 
tiles indeed vied in splendor with the Italian sun 
whose radiance it reflected. There at the opposite 
extremity of the Forum, stood the temple of the 
divine Julius, of whom her father ever spoke in 
homage, and erected on the spot where the body of 
the Caesar had been consumed upon the funeral 
pyre! Backward her eyes roved again toward the 
Capitolinus and she beheld the great temple of 
Saturn, immortal protector of earth’s precious in- 
crease, the oldest temple on the Forum! There, too, 
was the Umbilicus urbis Romae, the golden column 
which the people believed marked the veritable 
center of the world ! She beheld the famed Rostra, 
where oratory had so often turned the tides of his- 
tory, and at her earnest request she was borne in 
direction gf the Curia Julia, the largest building 


30 tfte 0OD0 Decree 


217 


near the Forum, and which, begun by Julius Caesar, 
had but recently been completed by Augustus. And 
here it was that her father sat with the other patres 
conscripti! 

‘‘What dost thou think of Rome?” inquired De- 
cius of his daughter as he interrupted her roving 
eyes with which she attempted to see everything. 

“I do but think how small a thing I am, my fa- 
ther, beside this great magnificence of which I did 
not even dream !” 

“Small thing, sayest thou, my lamb?” said De- 
cius, with a frown, “to me thou art a thousandfold 
larger than a hundred such. I love them just so 
long as thou art here with me, — or there to greet 
me when I come,” and he pointed in the direction 
of his distant villa. “I love my Rome, yet cannot 
bear to think how I would feel wert thou not part 
of her!” 

The softness of his tones dimmed the eyes of 
Decia, who therefore did not see that Artus at that 
moment left them to take his oath at the temple of 
Jupiter Capitolinus. 

“I can remember no happier moment in my life 
than this,” said Decius to Aegea, “save that on 
which the mother of my child first said she loved 
me!” 

After hastily giving some orders, Decius turned 
to Decia and said : 

“Thou hast seen enough for this day. I must join 
Artus. Go at once to the grove of the Camoenae. 
There the horsemen and wagons wait. Go home- 
wards, — I will return for a late coena! Come, chase 
thy frown and embrace me.” ^ 

Poutingly Decia obeyed him. Although public 


218 


30 tbt ©oD0 Decree 


demonstration of affection was not in strict accord- 
ance with the sterner Roman customs of the period, 
Decius would not deny himself a caress from his 
daughter though all of Rome looked on. With a last 
fond glance at her, he strode up the Forum, a few 
clients attending him. The crowd of its own free 
v/ill made way for Decius, a fact which served to 
demonstrate his popularity. In the throng a cobbler 
from whom Hygeia had succeeded in removing but 
a small portion of the stains of his trade, said to a 
neighbour : 

“There goes an honest noble whose shoes I would 
make without pay! When such men walk on leath- 
er, they do honour to my trade, — and too, he hath 
a muscle! Twice as great as mine! By Hercules! 
he could drive a nail!” Striking his two rough 
hands together in a mighty clacque, he shouted, 
“Hail, Decius!” 

The senator glanced in his direction and smiled. 

jfj 

It had been a trying day for the new praetor, for 
lo! as he left the temple where he had taken his 
oath, a prisoner who was being transferred to a dif- 
ferent place of confinement, had appealed to him for 
mercy — and that prisoner had proved to be none 
other than Bassus! Yet the new praetor had dis- 
pensed justice as his mind directed, justice unbiased 
by aught save law! 

Later that afternoon Decius and Artus, preceded 
by the two lictors of the praetor, walked through 
the Forum on the way to meet the litters which 
were to bear them to the Janiculum. A cheering 
crowd followed. 


as tfje ©oDs Decree 


219 


‘‘What can I add to that which I have already 
told thee, Artus?” asked Decius. 

“I thank thee with my full heart, Decius, yet 
perchance thou canst not perceive the thrust that 
pains the most. ’Tis this; I have condemned my 
son to suffer for a crime the counterpart of that 
which I, myself, committed in my youth. The gods 
have denied me the opportunity to make proper 
reparation. The beloved sweetheart of my youth 
is now among the shades, yet this son, the result 
of my crime, remains to ever remind me of that — 
crime — to intensify the remorse I feel. My heart 
is dead and I am sick of it all. Methinks I can in- 
deed no longer fittingly grace the praetorship 

Decius replied: 

“Artus, thou vertex! Do we or the gods regulate 
the universe? Taurus so highly commends thee 
that thy resignation would not be accepted.” 

When Artus retired to the privacy of his cuhi- 
culum, he held his arm across his face and when he 
lowered it, tear drops glistened on his cheeks. He 
spoke but two words: 

“My Euterpia !” he said. 


CHAPTER XXXVIII 

The litter containing Decia and Aegea proceeded 
on its way to the Capenan gate, clients of Decius 
escorting it as it passed through the crowded streets, 
with their booths, open cook-shops, tables of vint- 
ners, with chain-bound bottles to protect them from 
passing pilferers, and restaurants with festoons of 
greens and flowers. At every foot of the way, 
some scene or incident held Decia’s interest. She 
saw gymnasts, clowns, Egyptian snake-charmers 
juggling the reptiles, hucksters of all sorts, beggars, 
and men of foreign costume and bearing. Gladia- 
tors proved attractive to her, and when she saw 
some of massive build and knotted muscles, her 
admiration for Glaccus increased. The youth had 
won his combats against such men! Then her lips 
would quiver. At times she would order a halt, 
perchance to watch a hairy native of Germania, at 
whose guttural commands, a large bear, muzzled 
and chained, would dance or turn a clumsy somer- 
sault for the amusement of the crowd. She saw 
the strange varieties of persons who were engaged 
in the service of idolatry. The salii, priests of Mars 
Gradivus, the flamines devoted to the service of a 
particular god, sacer dotes, and feriales. Again she 
would stop to have her fortune told for a piece of 
silver by an old hag, who claimed direct descent 
from the sirens who had enchanted Ulysses I 
220 


3s tfte <25oDs Decree 


221 


“Decia,” said the patient Aegea, “I must again 
remind thee that the hours pass; the escort awaits 
us at the gate !” 

Eventually, and to the great relief of all, they 
passed the antique looking arch of the aqueduct 
and arrived outside the Porta Capena. Decia and 
Aegea, alighted from the lectica, and entered the 
rheda, and the cavalcade proceeded along the “Queen 
of Roads/’ 

For the hundredth time Aegea answered the tire- 
less questioner. 

“Is Rome always so bright and gay? Do the 
gladiators have wives? Did they have to beat the 
bear to train him thus ? Did Aegea think her father 
would allow them to visit Rome again on the mor- 
row?” At last the cavalcade stopped, the horses 
panting from the exertion of the speedy journey. 
Decius had announced a holiday for the familia and 
in point of numbers, the grounds were comparative- 
ly depopulated. 

There was one, however, who viewed the return 
of Decia with palpitating heart. Hidden in the 
branches of a tree near the road, was Glaccus. He 
saw Decia’s face shining with excitement of the 
journey as she plied her questions to Aegea, and his 
face assumed an even more serious expression, and 
he murmured: 

“She played with me, else how could she be thus 
happy while I — I suffer! Fool that I am to tarry 
here!” 

After the cortege had disbanded, he walked slow- 
ly along the road to the rustica and entered his 
room. 

Meanwhile, Aegea and Decia, after having visited 


222 


30 tbt <SoD0 Decree 


the tepidarium to remove the stains of travel, sat 
on the portico. Decia still continued her questions, 
relative to the wonderful city, but at last arose and 
said : 

''Come, Aegea, and walk with me to the stream. 
Thou art not too tired, art thou, Aegea?’' 

They walked slowly toward the stream. 

"That is the statue thy father pointed out to me. 
He laughed heartily while telling me that thou 
didst, when a child, attempt to scar the face because 
it did not resemble that of Artus! See, he keeps 
it at a post of honour !" 

Decia blushed. 

"Do not tease me, Aegea! My father said he 
keeps it there to remind me of my love for Artus 
whom I know it is their mutual desire that I love 
otherwise than as a second father. Alas, it cannot 
ber 

"I warrant thy father is in no haste to give thee 
in marriage to any man. What will he do when 
thou dost leave him to anoint some man’s door with 
wolf-fat?” 

Decia laughed as she replied : 

"He says he will take a place in my husband’s 
familia to be thus near me. Indeed, I worship him ! 
Yet tell him not, else will he rule me even more 
than now. Indeed, ’twas not until I became ill that 
he took me to see Rome!” 

"Tell me more, — of Artus,” said Aegea. 

Thus conversing they arrived at the bank of the 
stream where they reclined upon nature’s pillows 
formed by the verdant grass of the rich soil. 


CHAPTER XXXIX 


At the section of the grounds of Decius where 
the stream passed the upper boundary, a low bridge 
had been constructed. When the water was low 
a boat could be rowed beneath. 

Three men sat conversing in low tones on the 
bank of the stream just above this bridge. 

'‘And I tell ye, blockheads, that we can lie flat 
upon our bellies on a raft and I can guide it be- 
neath the bridge, thence to the grove. Do ye 
expect such generous pay without risk?” 

The speaker was Galbus, who had undertaken 
to carry out the plans of Donatus. The three men 
composed a crew whose faces indicated their readi- 
ness to cooperate in all deeds, not excluding murder 
if needs be, suflice it they received reward. Planks 
that had been brought for the purpose, were hastily 
lashed together on long poles. A flooring of newly 
cut branches was made. The crew embarked, lying 
upon this raft, which slowly drifted with the mild 
current. Galbus steered it by means of a hastily 
improvised oar. To the casual observer, this craft 
would have appeared to be a mass of driftwood 
being borne onward by the flowing water. A plan 
of the grounds had been furnished to Donatus by 
a spy, and it was by means of this that Galbus 
eventually guided the raft, after it had come from 
223 


224 


30 tfte 0OD0 Decree 


under the arch, toward the bank where pine, cypress 
and oak trees formed a grove. Fortune favoured 
the crew, for they succeeded in finding a spot on 
the bank where the branches of a willow tree ex- 
tended over the water. They moored their craft, 
quickly climbed the bank, and put their heads to- 
gether. Galbus gave his final instructions. 

“Move quietly. Creep thus!” They moved for- 
ward in the direction of one of the pathways which 
led from the portico of the villa. 

Voices were heard. Galbus crawled on his stom- 
ach, his companions following him. 

Decia and Aegea were engaged in earnest con- 
versation and were walking in the direction of the 
stream. 

“Remember,” said Galbus, “no blood! Ye two, 
clap this bag over the head of the older woman, 
ril take the girl. Now, quietly, forward! Do not 
attack until I give the signal, — then act quickly!” 

Decia and Aegea, seated on the bank, did not 
dream of their peril. The nurse was much inter- 
ested in the various details of the life of Artus as 
told by her companions. 

Suddenly, and without the slightest warning, 
Aegea saw blackness before her. She felt her throat 
clasped in a strong clutch. A piece of rope was 
wound about her face, her jaws were forced open, 
and a terrible pressure prevented utterance of a 
single sound. She then felt the rope twisted about 
her hands and encircle her waist, thence to her 
ankles which were also bound. Then she felt a 
blow, and lost consciousness. 

The experience of Decia was similar to that of 
her companion, save that a piece of foul cloth had 


as tbt <5olts Decree 


225 


been forced into her mouth. The last thing she saw 
before blackness enveloped her, was Aegea in the 
grasp of two men. Galbus lifted Decia in his strong 
arms and moved forward on his knees toward the 
raft. They left Aegea where she had fallen. Cau- 
tiously the evil crew embarked^ with Decia in the 
middle of the raft, which Galbus had covered with 
leaves and boughs. It proceeded on its journey, 
passing through the grounds of Decius until it 
reached the bridge at the other boundary. Galbus 
grasped his oar and steered the craft through the 
arch. One thing, however, consoled Decia. By her 
father's orders, she never moved a step without 
having concealed about her a tiny jeweled dagger 
set with gems and encased in a sheath of carved 
ivory. 

‘‘Father," she murmured to herself, “I will die 
rather than live to be other than thou wouldst have 
me!” 

Several hundred paces below the bridge Galbus 
steered the raft toward the bank and they landed. 
He lifted his burden in his arms, and, followed by 
his companions, entered a thick growth of bushes. 


CHAPTER XL 


It was past the tenth hour. The handmaidens 
of Decia, aware of the expected arrival of Decius 
from Rome, went forth to seek her at the stream. 
Not seeing her they called, and receiving no reply, 
scattered, and went to the bank at different points. 
Felicia came upon the form of Aegea and screamed. 
Her companions joined her and some ran for help. 
The old Thracian, who had been dozing on a marble 
seat at the main driveway, was the first to come 
upon the scene. Quickly he unbound Aegea, amidst 
screams of terror. The villiciis was summoned. 
They placed Aegea upon a marble bench beneath the 
protecting branches of a tree. They dashed water 
on her face and she regained consciousness only to 
faint again. They continued to work over her, 
bathing her forehead with cool water, and clapping 
her hands. Their efforts were rewarded, and as 
she opened her eyes she shrieked : 

“Decia, Decia! Where is Decia?” They did not 
know ! 

The truth began to dawn on Aegea. Upon hear- 
ing her story the milieus ran hurriedly from the 
scene toward the rustica, where he summoned those 
of the slaves who were on the grounds. 

The thoughts of Aegea reverted to Decia. She 
could see in her mind's eye the face of Decius when 
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227 


he heard the terrible news, — Decius, not as she had 
last seen him this day, with all the power of a sena- 
tor of Rome, but as a stricken father who had lost 
his child. 

At that moment the sounds of heavy footsteps 
were heard along the pathway. Decius had re- 
turned. 

“Why is the villicus not at the gate?” he ques- 
tioned. 

Then he observed the white faces of the startled 
gathering. 

“What means all this? Where is Decia?” 

Aegea became hysterical. She could not speak. 
Several times she attempted to control herself, but 
each time failed. None about was able to speak. 

“Speak,” shouted Decius, “are ye dumb? Where's 
Decia?” 

The old Thracian in a trembling voice told what 
had transpired. 

Decius drew his fingers through his hair and his 
face turned livid. 

“Aegea, where is my child?” 

Summoning her strength, she told him all as he 
grasped her wrist in his strong hand almost crunch- 
ing her bones, his chest heaving and his face becom- 
ing alternately pale and livid. 

Then he sprang from her, discarding his light 
pamiila, and rending his toga into strips because it 
impeded his progress as he ran toward the stream, 
roaring, — even as a Gaetulian lion, when robbed of 
his mate — and shouting : 

“Decia, Decia!” 

In a straight line he ran, bounding over marble 
benches, crunching the choice flowers in the garden. 


228 


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conquering everything that lay in a pathway lead- 
ing straight to that fatal stream. His voice echoed 
from the distance in a veritable roar. The hand- 
maidens and other domestics gathered about the 
weeping form of Aegea, were speechless in the ten- 
sion of the moment. The silence, however, was 
broken by one of the handmaids who shrieked. 
Women joined their cries to hers and some fainted 
as the voice of the grief-stricken father was borne 
to them. The slaves, with signs of lamentation and 
distress, began to gather near the portico whither 
they had been summoned by the villicus. Men 
looked at each other hopelessly. 

A Gallic slave, huge and bearlike, struck his 
breast with clenched hand, his mouth open and his 
eyes staring wildly about him! It was as though 
this happy villa had suddenly been stricken by a 
blast of doom! With blanched faces they herded 
together, the women clinging to each other, the 
children crying from unknown fright. Men grasped 
hands in fear awaiting the return of their master 
with his new-born grief ; and return to them he did, 
though not as he had left, terror-stricken, as a man 
condemned by great calamity thrust thus suddenly 
upon him, but rather as the master and one who 
would not tolerate disobedience! His eyes were 
blood-shot. He walked with firm tread. The line 
of his mouth was straight and hard. He looked 
the personification of determined vengeance. Ven- 
geance on whom? On the very gods themselves, 
if needs be! Had he not but these few moments 
past at the stream, called upon the deities, plead- 
ingly? Then had he not cursed them because no 


30 tftc <goti0 Decree 229 

answering cry had come to his hoarse shout of 
“Decia !” 

The familia, gathered there before him as a 
trembling herd, waited — for they knew not what! 
Speechless they stood, as Decius strode toward 
them and said hoarsely : 

‘‘Have every man, woman and child assemble 
here I” 

With folded arms he awaited the carrying out of 
his orders. Then he walked among the crowd, 
gazing now into the face of this one, now of that, 
as if striving to discover an enemy in the throng. 
The slaves to whom he had given holiday were now 
returning, for soon the sun would sink beneath the 
horizon. 

They stood before him, none daring to breathe 
a sound. A slave-woman pressed her hands over 
her mouth to smother a shriek. A very aged freed- 
woman whose few strands of white hair caressed a 
thousand wrinkles, — a former slave to whom Decius 
had granted freedom to honour her few remaining 
days, — ^groped her way toward him. She had been 
led into the crowd for she was blind, and her sight- 
less eyes were wide open in their sunken sockets. 
With bony arms extended, she now proceeded to- 
ward him, guided by the sounds from his heaving 
chest. Yet Decius, who had never before failed to 
grant her a kind word, looked at her this moment 
without the slightest spark of interest and as though 
he had not heard her weak cry of “Domine !” Then 
she seated herself on the ground before him, and 
comprehending naught, but guided by intuition, 
reasoned that he of whom she had never ceased to 


230 


as tfie (So 00 Decree 


think save as a beloved master, had become dis- 
pleased with her, and from her lustreless eyes rolled 
tears! At last he spoke. 

‘‘Ye know/*’ he said sternly, “the calamity. If 
any among ye know aught of the crime speak, I 
command 1” 

One woman started to run screaming from the 
Spot. Decius sprang after her and grasping her arm 
none too gently, dragged her back into the crowd. 
As though this was but a passing incident he re- 
sumed his place before them. He rolled his tongue 
in his mouth as though to loosen it and continued : 

“By all the tortures of Cerberus and Hecate, I 
vow ril tear the flesh from thy bodies piece by 
piece, if I find not my child! Some of ye were 
here on these grounds with her. She did not pass 
the villiciis at the gate. Therefore some among ye 
must have knowledge of this crime. Speak, ere I 
tear tongues from mouths to loosen them!” 

He dug his nails into the flesh of his clenched 
hands. The women were now too terror stricken 
to scream or weep. The men were equally speech- 
less. He strode among them, turning those about 
who feared to meet his glances. He saw naught 
but looks of terror and helplessness, — mayhap he 
saw their innocence, for he covered his eyes with 
his arm. None moved. He spoke again. His voice 
was now soft as a woman’s. 

“If there are any among ye whom I have 
wronged, — and perchance there are, for I am thy 
domine and may have caused ye pain, though I use 
not the lash as do other Romans, — then have ye in 
these past moments repaid me a thousandfold. I 
know that the chains of slavery cut into the souk 


30 tfte ©000 Decree 


231 


Who knows it better now than I, — I, who at sun- 
rise was a master, am now a slave of grief!” 

The aged freedwoman in her blindness groped 
until she felt a piece of tattered toga that still clung 
to his tunic, and she pressed it to her colourless 
lips! 

A great wail of grief now rose on the air. Some 
women fainted in their emotion, which had changed 
from fear to sorrow. Strong men, whose half 
nude bodies displayed great strength, covered their 
faces and some wept! All, — all felt powerless, too 
powerless for words, though all indeed were inno- 
cent. 

At last a huge Dacian slave stepped forward 
from the throng. He held in his hand a heavy piece 
of wood. Decius looked at him. 

‘"Lord,” he said, brokenly, “though slaves, we 
are not beasts. Rend not our hearts with the grief 
we share with thee. If thou wouldst make us suf- 
fer in our innocence, then rend our flesh with this, 
yet cut not our hearts with thy grief laden words; 
though slaves, we are not beasts!” 

Stripping his exomis to the waist, he knelt with 
bowed head, his naked back to Decius, the wood 
extended backward toward the master’s hands, — 
knelt, waiting for the blows to descend! Decius 
turned his back to them. He covered his face with 
his arms, and all they heard from him was a deep 
groan as though from a broken heart, for in his 
grief he seemed to have a premonition that all his 
efforts to recover his child would be futile. 


CHAPTER XLI 


Glaccus at the rustica, his mind engrossed in 
thoughts of his disappointment, was aroused from 
his reveries by the shouts of slaves. 

“Come all! come all!’' 

In a spirit of curiosity he walked slowly toward 
one of the deep-voiced criers. 

“What mean thy words?” he cried. 

“The domine calls all men, women and children. 
Thou, too, hadst better come,” was the brief in- 
formation vouchsafed by the slave who proceeded 
on his way, continuing his summoning cry. 

Glaccus arrived near the portico in time to hear 
the words of Decius, whose voice he had hardly 
recognized. The ex-gladiator pushed his way into 
the crowd, his brain refusing to comprehend the 
meaning of the words he heard. He said to a slave 
who stood next to him : 

“What is it all about ? Who speaks ?” 

“Hast thou not listened?” was the reply, “the 
gentle domina has strangely disappeared. The mas- 
ter thinks his slaves have had a hand in it, we who 
love her! Jupiter, save the man his reason!” 

The face of Glaccus became horror-stricken in 
its expression, his jaw dropped and he clinched his 
^ hands nervously. The slave shook him. 

“What ails thee, man? Thou art no slave to 
fear punishment !” but if Glaccus heard him he made 
232 


30 tbt ®oD 0 Decree 


233 


no reply. He stood there transfixed. Thoughts 
that Decia had wronged him did not enter his mind. 
He gave a mighty groan, then dashed madly into 
the crowd bowling them right and left in his efforts 
to see — to see something! He saw the back of 
Decius, for the senator had ceased speaking, and 
was now passing his hands through his locks as if 
striving to collect his thoughts. 

The heart of Glaccus ached to tell Decius that he, 
a gladiator, loved that daughter, had kissed her 
hand, had heard gentle words from her lips. Then 
he hated himself for the deceit. The sight of Glac- 
cus seemed to bring Decius to his senses. 

‘‘Quick, to Artus! Gods hold back the hours!” 

Glaccus started for the stables, but Decius called 
after him : 

“Stay, stay, I cannot trouble him, — no — not — 
not this day.” 

Then to himself he muttered, “Thus grief keep 
step with grief!” 

Helplessly he walked up and down in the garden 
fronting his portico. Glaccus followed him. 

“No, tempt me not,” continued Decius. “On the 
morrow, — for this day he ” said Decius weak- 

ly, cutting short his speech. 

Aegea, however, had heard the voice of Glaccus 
and she arose and came toward him. 

“My poor Aegea,” said Glaccus, as he noticed the 
reddened skin about her mouth. He grasped her 
arms. 

“Do I dream, is this some nightmare ?” 

“Glaccus,” she said weakly, “mind not Decius, 
but fly, fly to Artus !” 

Glaccus ran to the stables. None stopped him 


234 3S tfte <goD0 Decree 

and soon he was riding madly along the Appian 
Way attired in his single tunic, his knees pressed 
deep into the flanks of his mount, nor did he draw 
rein until he had reached the Porta Capena, which 
he was fortunate in doing before the gates were 
closed. There he inquired for the house of the Prae- 
tor Artus, and having been told that it stood in the 
Janiculum, dismounted and ran madly through the 
streets. Pedestrians attempted to stop him and some 
pursued him thinking he was a madman. He suc- 
ceeded, however, in finding the “insula” of Artus. 
The ostiarius opened the door, and seeing the dust- 
begrimed youth with heaving chest and a wild 
look in his eyes, said gruffly : 

“What wouldst thou here? Begone!” 

“Thy master, — quick!” panted Glaccus. 

“My master left strictest orders not to be dis- 
turbed.” 

“Yet I come from Aegea,” said Glaccus, as in a 
semi-daze, he drew the back of his hand across his 
forehead. 

“And who may ‘Aegea’ be !” laughed the ostiarius. 

This was too much for the heated blood of Glac- 
cus, who forcibly threw the slave against the wall 
of the vestibule and ran into the atrium shouting, 
“Artus! Artus!” 

He then rushed to the peristyle, followed by the 
ostiarius, who was loudly shouting for help. Seated 
on a marble bench with Eurycele, Artus was seek- 
ing consolation at this moment of his sorrow — his 
sorrow of having been compelled to sentence his 
own son! Eurycele was saying: 

“Brutus did the same, my lord. Did not Brutus 
in the Forum, perform a harder task? He ordered 


30 t6e ©oD0 Decree 


235 


the axeman to sever the heads of his own sons! 
Thou art no less a Roman than he was I Such things 
must be, and too, ’twill make a man of Bassus, who 
sorely needed some such severe lesson, — and think, 
thou hast but sentenced him to happiness, — to marry 
a gentle girl who worships him! Forget the grief 
which grows such good fruit. All Rome will love 
thee more, nor value thee less highly for it.” 

“Yet think, Eurycele, think that he struck her! 
O, that a limb of mine should be thus cowardly! 
With that blow, Eurycele, he stunned my heart!” 

“But, dearest, the blow was not struck with pur- 
pose to injure her! — ’twas delivered in excitement 
and thoughtlessness, — the youth, while ” 

At this moment Artus heard the commotion in 
the atrium and arose in a rage. Glaccus burst into 
the peristyle pursued by the ostiarius and other 
members of the household. 

“Glaccus, is this the way to break unbidden into 
my presence?” he asked sternly. 

“Decia has been stolen! Aegea sent me to thee! 
Give me drink !” said the youth as he fell, his tongue 
hanging from his mouth, his chest heaving from 
the strain. A slave brought cool water mixed with 
a little wine. He also bathed the face, head and 
feet of Glaccus. 

“Eurycele, hast thou heard?” said Artus hastily. 

This stern Roman who was known for his habitual 
self-possession was now in a fever of uncontrolled 
excitement. He knelt to the ground and lifted 
Glaccus, supporting his head, and said: 

“Glaccus, tell me quickly. Glaccus, hold thyself 
for the debt thou owest the father !” 

Shortly afterwards Artus .and Glaccus ran through 


236 


as tftc (Sods Decree 


the Porta Capena. Although it was past sundown 
the gates were always opened for those who desired 
to leave the city. Horses were secured and they 
rode madly along the Via Appia, skillfully guiding 
their steeds between all obstructions. By a strange 
trick of fate, although unknown to them, they passed 
a covered fruit-wagon containing Decia. 

Galbus, the driver, smiled as they rode past, for 
he had recognized Artus. The riders were walking 
their horses to give the beasts a brief breathing 
spell. Galbus laughed long and loudly. 

“Ye had better hasten to keep her from riding 
thus in triumph to Rome!” he said. 

Artus and Glaccus did not draw rein until they 
reached the short road leading to the villa. Artus 
vaulted lightly from his horse even before the beast 
had stopped and was closely followed by Glaccus, 
who already took consolation and hope from hav- 
ing this remarkable man on the scene. 

Hastily they ran up the road, past the milieus. 

Night had come and lamps, flaming torches, and 
lanterns already illumined the grounds about the 
portico of the villa. They found Decius pacing up 
and down. He had recovered himself during the 
absence of Glaccus, had sent couriers in all direc- 
tions to friends and clients in Rome and along the 
great roadways, spreading the alarm for he had 
again become a man of action. 

He was surprised to see Artus walking along the 
pathway. 

“Mercury, who sent my message to thee be 
praised ! A friend is a second self and thou art the 
one man I hungered for in my grief. Hast thou 
stilled thine own to comfort mine?” 


30 tbt <®oD 0 Decree 


237 


“Decius, my grief takes second place beside thine 
and yet — and yet, methinks thou dost grossly ex- 
aggerate the danger!” 

“What cold words are these? Man, what dost 
thou mean?” 

“Patience, Decius,” said Artus coldly, “and hear 
me. Canst thou not discern it? Thou art a man 
of wealth, — much wealth, — therefore some villains, 
coveting thy money, have taken thy child to hold 
for ransom.” 

“Forgive me, Artus! already thou hast given me 
some food for hope!” 

“Hear me further, Decius. Thou hast pursued 
the wrong course of action, for I doubt not that 
even now thy messengers speed throughout all Rome 
giving the alarm. Why didst thou not wait until 
the morrow?” 

“Wait until the morrow and my lamb not here?” 
said Decius, as he started to pace anew up and down 
the garden fronting the portico. 

“On the morrow I said, Decius. Wouldst thou 
frighten the rogues? On the morrow I say, — or 
mayhap the next day, — thou’lt receive a tablet. Pay 
the price. Thou canst well afford it!” 

“Dost — dost thou think thus?” said Decius as an 
expression of hope illumined his countenance. 

“Decius, hast thou not heard that 'tis not long 
since the little child of Lentilus, — a man thou know- 
est but slightly, — was returned to him upon the pay- 
ment of ten thousand sesterces?” 

“No, I did not hear it, and methinks ’tis not long 
since I saw the man in quiet contentment.” 

“Aye, and thus can Lentilus shame thee at thy 
fright. When men need money they do not stop 


238 tftt <g»otig Decree 

at scruples. Let them have it. Meanwhile we will 
walk to the spot whence she was taken.” 

''Artus, thou hast given me courage already. 
Aegea was roughly used. I warrant, however, that 
the villains know better than to harm my child.” 

“Right, Decius, right. Well they know thou 
wouldst not pay for damaged goods !” 

In the darkness Decius did not observe that under 
the terrible strain the face of Artus had become 
ashen, nor did he hear the whispered words of the 
praetor : 

“Jupiter forgive these necessary lies!” 

They proceeded to the stream, slaves lighting the 
way with flaming torches and lanterns. 

When they had arrived at the bank of the stream, 
Artus took a lantern and peered close to the ground, 
examining the close cut grass. He continued his 
search even to the edge of the water. As he climbed 
the bank again he was rewarded by seeing something 
bright glistening in the light of his lantern. He 
picked the object from the ground and thrust it 
into his tunic. He walked away from Decius and 
then drew the object forth and examined it. He 
gave vent to a sigh of relief, for though it was a 
knife, he observed that the blade was not blood 
stained ! 

“Look, Decius,” he shouted, “a fool has dropped 
his weapon! The blade is clean.” 

With trembling hands Decius took it from him 
and said, excitedly : “Her precious blood at least is 
safe!” 

“Bah,” laughed Artus, “ Twas but to frighten 
her. I doubt not that ere I leave on the morrow 
thy money-chest will be lighter. Thou knowest 


tfte Decree 239 

the property of others is always more inviting than 
our own !” 

“And I would give all my money to see her, 
Artus, for a single moment before then. Yet know 
that as my blessed lamb entered the rheda, she un- 
fortunately, in the excitement of the occasion, placed 
her left foot foremost!” 

“Bah!” said Artus, “thou art becoming supersti- 
tious as a woman!” 

They returned to the portico and Artus said : 

“Take me to Aegea, then go and rest thyself.” 

“Thou art a friend sent by the gods themselves !” 
said Decius. 

They entered the room in which Aegea was re- 
clining. When Decius had left Artus said : 

“Good Aegea, I regret thy experience. Calamity 
has indeed visited this place !” 

The pale face of his auditor bore an expression of 
deep despair. 

“Oh, how terrible it is !” she answered. 

“It is indeed most serious,” whispered Artus, 
“yet make light of it to Decius whom I told that his 
child is doubtless held for ransom. I do not think 
thus. Yet desperate maladies require desperate 
remedies. We must save the man his reason. Send 
for Glaccus.” 

Aegea summoned a slave whom she instructed to 
find the youth, and Glaccus entered soon afterwards. 

“Glaccus,” said Artus, “dost thou see this knife ?” 

He drew from the folds of his tunic the weapon 
he had picked up at the stream. 

“Aye,” replied the youth, “ ’tis a sailor’s weapon, 
— I have seen a hundred such in the wine-shops 
near the Tiber.” 


240 


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‘'Yet none so valuable as this, Glaccus, for it is 
our only clue. ’Twas dropped at the stream. Begrime 
thyself with dirt, and take on a character that will 
enable thee to visit those places without suspicion. 
Alas; my scar bars me, else would I go — yet thou 
canst do the work. Here is a purse, but keep it 
hidden. Go through those wine-shops, mingle with 
the crowds, drink, curse, shout, be one of them. 
Conviviality reveals secrets, and if I judge not 
wrong, soon thou’lt discover some rogue whose 
bulging purse fits not his trade. Join the murderous 
crew and bring Decius his child !” 

The face of Glaccus brightened. Aegea arose 
from her couch. 

“I pray the gods to lead me to her!” said Glaccus. 

Artus walked close to him and placed his hand 
Upon the shoulder of the youth. 

“Thou canst have my praetorship if success at- 
tends thee! Now fly!” 

Glaccus quickly embraced Aegea, an action which 
did not escape the eagle eye of Artus. The youth 
quickly sped to the stables and soon the sound of 
galloping hoofs were heard as he tore madly along 
the short road leading to the Via Appia. 


CHAPTER XLII 


Donatus and Mecinia were seated in the atrium, 
engaged in earnest conversation. 

“Ere now we should have heard some word from 
Galbus!” said Donatus, as he arose and paced up 
and down. 

“Calm thyself, Donatus, thou dost quite upset 
me with thy impatience. Thou knowest that even 
if he fails there is no evidence against thee.” 

“Aye, Fortunse, but this very day Artus took the 
praetorship. My enemies thus multiply. O, but 
they will pay for it, by Mars the Avenger! if Galbus 
succeeds !” 

At that moment a step was heard in the vestibule. 
Galbus entered, and said in a low voice : 

“All went well. I have the girl safe with old 
Calpurnia.” 

In subdued tones he told the details of the abduc- 
tion. 

“ ’Twas ably done,” said Donatus, “yet, Galbus, 
do not forget to make thy friends take a long jour- 
ney.” 

Galbus smiled evilly as he replied : 

“On the morrow they will get their reward.” 

“And for it, Galbus, thou shalt live in comfort 
when I reward thee,” but Donatus added to himself, 
“with a knife in thy heart!” 

Then he smiled and said aloud : 

241 


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as tfje ©oDs Decree 


“Come to me on the morrow. This night I will 
see ‘the bird.' ” Galbus made his exit. 

“Didst thou hear, Fortunae? A good beginning 
ensures a good ending,” said Donatus, as he put his 
hands tremblingly on the arm of Mecinia, “A clever 
man is that, — aye, too clever!” 

“Watch him closely, Donatus.” 

“Fear not, Fortunae, for I seal his lips with 
bounties. Thou knowest ‘where the carrion lies, 
there fly the vultures.' ” 

“And what dost thou intend to do with her?” 
inquired Fortunae. 

“I have not thought upon it; yet I must visit her 
this night to see if Galbus tells the truth.” 

He ordered his litter and covering himself with 
a dark Gallic cloak with a hood, was carried in th." 
direction of the Forum Boarium and close to the 
Tiber, where he alighted and ordered the lecticarii 
to await him. He continued the remainder of his 
journey alone and soon arrived at an alleyway 
near the wharves. A single light shining before the 
entrance to a dilapidated structure was his only 
guide, and it was likewise a signal. He reached a 
rough door against which he kicked thrice. An 
answering signal came from within. 

“Who comes?” cried a screechy voice in a high 
key. 

“The friend of Galbus,” was the reply of Don- 
atus. 

“What is thy will?” he heard from the interior. 

“To see a bird whose wings are clipped.” 

Chains rattled and a bolt was drawn. Donatus 
entered. An old woman, whose hair hung in knotted 
and unkempt strands, stood before him. A lantern 


30 tfje <S5oD0 Decree 


243 


which she held faintly illuminated the dim interior. 
Keeping his face well muffled in his hOod, Donatus 
said : 

‘‘Quick, where is the bird? I warn thee no harm 
must come to her, dost hear? Take this.” 

He pressed a gold piece into the hand of the old 
woman, who kissed the coin before she buried it 
in the rags which covered her. She led him to a 
room at the end of a passageway. There, as she 
unlocked a door and held the lantern on high, Do- 
natus beheld within the foul room the weeping fig- 
ure of Decia lying on a bed of straw. He left im- 
mediately. When he had departed the old hag re- 
turned to the room where Decia lay and laughed 
harshly as she rubbed her bony hands together. 

Decia turned her head and beheld the old woman, 
the rays of whose lantern served to bring out in 
sharpest accents the cruel lines of her face. As the 
lips of the old hag parted one of her teeth protruded 
prominently, glistening as a white fang. 

The face of Decia was now pale as the lilies of 
Hebron, and her locks of golden hair were now in 
tangles. Approaching closely the old woman shook 
her fist in the face of the prisoner, muttering: 

“ ’Twas such as thou and thy patrician breed, 
curse ye, that killed my boy, my poor boy, — and 
now they leave one of thy kind in my hands and 
think I will let ye escape ! He ! he ! I guess not, else 
let Jove hurl me into Hades ! I have ye in my cage, 
my pretty bird ! Ha !” 

She looked gloatingly over Decia and suddenly a 
new thought entered her mind. 

“Get up I Dost think thou canst lie there in such 
comfort ?** 


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as tfte (Sods Decree 


She shook her bony fist in the face of the maiden, 
who arose, her beautiful eyes now flashing in anger. 

‘^Come with me,” said the old woman. 

Decia followed her, looking about, as if studying 
some possible means of escape. The old hag dug 
her long nails into the arm of Decia and forced the 
maiden the length of the narrow hall which divided 
the ground floor of the structure into several apart- 
ments. The old woman opened a door leading to 
a dark cellar. She pushed Decia, who, as she stum- 
bled down a short flight of steps, heard the door 
above her close, and the sound of a hammer at the 
top of the steps. Hope had almost fled, but as she 
felt the handle of her jewelled dagger she gained 
courage and murmured : 

‘‘Thanks, father, thanks, for this blessed gift I It 
can free me from the tortures!” for already her 
throat had become parched and a weakness was 
stealing over her due to hunger. 


CHAPTER XLIII 


When Glaccus reached Rome the gates of the 
Porta Capena were closed and would remain so 
until sunrise. From his experiences as a boy, how- 
ever, he knew that there were ways and means of 
gaining entrance to the city at night, and cautiously 
he followed the walls until he found a spot that he 
remembered. With great difficulty he eventually 
managed to enter the city. Closely hugging the 
walls, wherever possible, he proceeded to the region 
of the Circus Maximus, passed through the Forum 
Boarium and arrived near the Tiber. There he 
entered one of the taverns by a rear door, and saw 
a number of rough men in the room. Assuming a 
drunken expression he leaned against the wall, from 
which point of vantage he surveyed the occupants. 
He threw a coin upon a table and called for '‘loraT 
When the wine was brought to him he overturned it 
as if by accident and shouted : 

‘^Curses — on my luck, — my last coin!’^ 

He then looked about him pleadingly, as if beg- 
ging for a drink. No invitations, however, were 
extended to him and he reasoned : 

*^They could not raise an as between them all!’^ 
He staggered through the doorway still cursing 
loudly. He then visited the next taberna and again 
spilled his wine. The occupants, however, did not 
displav the slightest interest in his actions. They 
245 


246 3$ t[)e <goDg Decree 

were a crowd of low browed denizens of the quar- 
ter. 

''Poorer than the last!” he said as he proceeded 
on his way. He had repeated this performance per- 
haps a dozen times and nothing had developed to 
give him the slightest hope. He was about to give 
up the task for the night when he observed a flicker- 
ing light further down the thoroughfare. 

He hoped it was some place where he could pass 
the remainder of the night, for the air was chilly 
and he was overcome with fatigue. As he ap- 
proached this tavern, he observed that it was one 
which evidently enjoyed more patronage than the 
rest. The host was about to close for the night, 
notwithstanding the protestations of several occu- 
pants who preferred the warm, though foul-smell- 
ing interior to the night damp. Glaccus entered, 
however. The host looked angrily at him. 

"By Pollux!” said Glaccus, "must a man go 
parched because thou — hie — art lazy as Marius’s 
mule? Here’s thy pay. Lora, — hrmglorar 

Seeing the coin, the host brought a jug of wine 
from which he poured some of the contents into a 
filthy earthen cup. Glaccus spilled it as if by acci- 
dent, and cursed roundly. 

"Curses on my luck, and on thee, clumsy water- 
seller! My last — ^hic — coin! Damn all patricians, 
and everything that reeks of money ! I am — done !” 

One of the occupants laughed. 

"No, thou shalt not go parched ! I like the cour- 
age of thy speech and will pay for it !” 

Glaccus turned around with a roll and throwing 
his arms firmly about the neck of the rough man 
who had spoken, said: 


90 tbe 00 D 0 Decree 


247 


“Thou art a Caesar in generosity!” 

“Loosen thy hold! Gods! thou hast strength!” 
gasped the man. 

Glaccus could scarce refrain from smiling with 
satisfaction. Here was his first hope, for this man 
owned a purse ! 

“Thy pardon,” he said drunkenly, “but — my 
heart bleeds, — thanks — hie — I was so — ‘parched. 
Thou art a Caesar!” 

“Nay, my name is Priamus,” said the man. 

“That art — a Caesar — in generosity! I was — so 
— parched !” 

“Methinks thy belly then absorbed all the mois- 
ture of the wine,” laughed the man, for Glaccus 
had tasted of the contents of several cups for the 
purpose of ladening his breath with the fumes of 
wines to carry out the deception of apparent intoxi- 
cation. 

“How great — a sum — hie — is a sesterce/* contin- 
ued Glaccus, “when a — hie — man's purse is flat! 
The lora has made a new man of me, yet — hie — ' 
friend, — ^good friend, hie — canst thou tell me, — O, 
— canst — thou tell me — hie — hie — how to — hie — fill 
my purse. I am desperate and I — see that — hie — » 
thou hast plenty!” 

He looked hungrily toward the purse which the 
man had opened to pay for the wine. 

“I worked for it,” was the answer. 

“Then canst thou — hie — ^get such work — hie — 
for me? I have not eaten — this entire day.” 

“Host,” shouted the new friend of Glaccus, “bring 
food for my friend.” 

The host responded to the order, and Glaccus was 
forced to partake of greasy beans and stale bread. 


248 


90 tfte ®oDs Dectee 


He ate all of it as if with great relish, stopping now 
and again to strike his new acquaintance on the 
back and to utter words of thanks. 

'‘Gods! — hie — I am new in Rome! I come from 
— Can — hie — Candium! They — ^hic — told me one 
could find money in the gutters, — hie — yet I am 
starv — starv — starving here.’’ 

The confidence of Glaccus appeared to please his 
new found friend mightily, and in appreciation the 
latter said : 

"Have one more drink to the health of Priamus, 
— that’s my name, — I promise thee that if I meet 
thee again, I’ll buy thee better wine!” 

At that moment a man entered. He was dirty and 
unkempt and a leer on his face gave to it an ex- 
pression of certain villainy. He approached Glaccus : 

"Is it thy habit to spill wine and cry poor?” he 
said. 

The companion of Glaccus moved away from him. 
Glaccus cursed to hide his change of colour at the 
interruption. 

"Who — hie — art thou, goat? Dost thou — hie — > 
beg to share in the generosity — of my friend ?” said 
Glaccus. 

"Villain!” cried the stranger, "thou art a spy! 
Thy performance of spilling thy wine is a twin to 
that. I saw thee do at the ‘Split Bullock’ this very 
night! A spy! Seize him!” 

As he attempted to take hold of Glaccus the lat- 
ter, accustomed to the use of the cestiis, struck the 
intruder behind the ear. Rage had lent strength to 
the force of the blow, and the ex-gladiator felled 
his man. 

The host came forward. 


as tfje <5oDs Decree 


249 


‘‘Peace !” he cried, “ye’ll have the watch upon us !” 

The adversary of Glaccus arose half dazed, still 
muttering : “Seize him ! seize him !” 

“Drunken — hie — fool !” said Glaccus, “wouldst 
thou feel — hie — my other arm?” 

Priamus, the new found friend of Glaccus, looked 
puzzled, but he did not fail to note the strength dis- 
played by the youth. The adversary of Glaccus, 
however, now maddened with hatred, advanced 
again threateningly. 

“Spy,” he hissed, “Pll stay thy arm!” and sud- 
denly drawing a knife he aimed a thrust at the 
youth. The latter dodged it, however, and swing- 
ing his left arm, struck the man between the eyes. 
This ended the combat. 

“Friend,” said Priamus, “thou canst fight well, 
yet what mean his words? Come to the ‘Split Bul- 
lock’ with me and prove thy innocence, else I will 
show thee that I am more than a match for thee!” 

“Aye, — hie — gladly,” said Glaccus, “yet — hie — 
thou — art — unjust.” 

The other occupants of the room arose as if to 
follow, but Priamus said ; 

“This is my business,” as he and Glaccus left the 
shop. 

The youth thought quickly. He could not go to 
the “Split Bullock.” This would disclose his guilt; 
therefore, as he crossed one of the narrow streets, 
he purposely slipped, and fell and lay there as if 
unconscious. Priamus looked puzzled. 

“I take no chances,” he murmured, as he turned 
upon his heel, quickly leaving Glaccus, who was soon 
surrounded by several inhabitants of the quarter. 

From the corner of his eye Glaccus watched the 


'250 


3$ tfte <5oBS Decree 


departure of Priamus, and when the man was out 
of hearing, said to the people surrounding him: 

"‘Where is my friend?’' 

“Thy friend!” laughed one of the people. 

“Aye! — ^where is he?” 

“Gone to the house of Maecenas on the Esqui- 
line!” said another and they all joined in the laugh- 
ter. 

Glaccus looked about him and spied Priamus turn- 
ing a corner. Quickly he sped after him and the 
“generous stranger,” believing that his new found 
friend was still lying unconscious in the street, was 
not aware that he was being followed, as he pro- 
ceeded in the direction of the “Split Bullock.” 

Glaccus stood in the shadows nearby and heard 
Priamus curse as the landlord told of a youth “spill- 
ing wine.” 

“The cursed spy ! I’ll have his blood, the dog, — 
ingrate ! May he rot in the realms of Hecate ! I’ll 
have his blood!” 

Priamus soon came into the street again and 
Glaccus took up the trail. 

“Do the gods so favour me? Can this be one 
of the villains? He is a plebian, yet carries the 
purse of a patrician. Such a man could not earn 
that money by labour!” 

As the man, now apparently sobered, walked 
through the streets, Glaccus, hugging the shadows 
as much as possible, followed him until he saw his 
quarry enter one of the tenements near the Forum 
Boarium. 

Glaccus resolved to force his way into the place, 
which was evidently the man’s abode. On second 
thought, however, he decided to watch, and lying 


30 tfte ©000 Decree 


251 


in the shadow of a house on the other side of the 
narrow viciis waited there until dawn. He then 
resolved to seek Artus again for advice and further 
instructions and to report upon the discovery of this 
possible clue. It was the only result that rewarded 
all his efforts. With difficulty he managed to keep 
awake and proceeded to the Porta Capena, passing 
through which he obtained a mount and rode to 
the villa of Decius. 

The villicus immediately despatched a slave to 
summon Artus. 

“Glaccus,” said Artus harshly, ‘‘why didst thou 
return so soon?” 

Glaccus told all that had transpired, and added : 

“Alas! this was all I could gain and I have not 
rested for a moment since I left thee.” 

“All, Glaccus? ’Tis enough indeed and was most 
ably done, — more than I did expect so soon. Didst 
thou say the man had much money?” 

“His purse was well filled,” replied Glaccus, “and 
as I told thee, he said he would buy me better wine. 
Perchance he means, — some reward 1” 

“That man may be one of them. Do not lose the 
scent. It is our only hope; Glaccus, thou shalt 
watch that house. I will arrange it for thee. Dis- 
guise thyself again and keep thy eyes riveted to 
that house. Pll give thee a dozen aids, likewise dis- 
guised, and instructed to obey thy every order. Have 
each man who leaves that house followed. This 
Priamus,— follow him thyself. I will go to Rome 
and thou canst summon me at any moment, for I 
will remain at my insula until I hear from thee. 
Fortune grant thee success! We will return to 
Rome at once. Canst thou stand the strain?” 


252 30 tht <SoDS Decree 


Artus went immediately to Decius to whom he 
said : 

“I must go at once to Rome. Follow later and 
leave word that thou canst be found at my house. 
Bear up, Decius, and join me without fail. We 
may be able to do some necessary work in Rome 
about this matter.” 

Decius said : ^^As thou sayest, I will be there.” 

“Remember, Decius,” said Artus, “that I have 
never failed thee.” 


CHAPTER XLIV 


When Artus and Glaccus arrived at the house of 
the former in the Janiculum, they completed their 
plans, and the youth received final instructions. 

“Remember, Glaccus,” said Artus, “I will have 
a dozen men about that house. They will be dressed 
as plebians, and will travel in pairs ready to obey 
thee when thou dost cry ‘Mars!’ Thou wilt recog- 
nize them by their tunics which will be rent beneath 
the right arm. It is not necessary for thee to know 
these men. The name of ‘Mars’ and the rent tunics 
will be sufficient to identify them. Two will be de- 
tailed to follow thee closely.” 

These and other details having been perfected, 
Glaccus now disguised as a huckster went to the 
tenement he had left shortly before dawn. He 
leaned against a wall on the opposite side of the 
vicits with a tray of sweetmeats before him and 
remained in the vicinity during almost the entire 
day, but it was not until near sundown that he was 
rewarded by the appearance of Priamus of the 
tahernae, who proceeded toward the Subura, Gla- 
ccus trailing him. The youth noted that he himself 
was in turn followed by two figures who were dark- 
ly cloaked. Priamus continued on his way until he 
arrived near the Servian walls in the region of the 
Circus Maximus. Noiselessly Glaccus followed Pri- 
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ag tfte (Sotis Decree 


amus, whom he saw meet a hooded figure. He then 
heard a shriek, — the sound of the death agony, 
which he indeed recognized because he had so often 
heard it in the arena ! 

He had no use for dead men who could give no 
clues, so he followed the assassin, murmuring as 
he did so: 

“Priamus has paid the price 

He heard the sound of coarse laughter from the 
figure which he now followed in the night, closely 
hugging the shadows. 

‘'Now for this murderer! He is my only hope!” 
said Glaccus. 

Galbus, the freedman of Donatus, — for it was he, 
— walked hastily toward the Forum Boarium, Glac- 
cus still trailing him. Eventually he saw the man 
stop before a dilapidated looking structure near the 
Tiber, lighted by a single lamp over the doorway. 
He heard bolts drawn and saw the man enter. The 
door closed again, then all was silent. Stealthily 
Glaccus crept to the door against which he pressed 
his ears, but heard no sound. He observed two fig- 
ures approaching. He grasped his knife and his 
heart beat faster as he pondered over the possible 
identity of these two newcomers, and then he smiled, 
for he remembered that they were friends. When 
they approached he said “Mars.” They answered 
him with the same word. 

“Let me see thy tunics,” said Glaccus. 

“They are rent beneath the arm,” was the reply. 

Glaccus whispered his instructions to them. 

“Thou,” he said to one of them, “shalt watch this 
door!” To the other he whispered: “Stay near 
me; yet do not come until I call for help!” 


as tht (Sons Decree 


255 


He then returned to the entrance of the house 
through which the murderer had passed, but just as 
he heard the bolts drawn again, a man came into the 
street. Glaccus suddenly threw himself upon the 
ground, singing in drunken accents. The man 
laughed and as he passed gave Glaccus a none too 
gentle kick. The youth gave vent to a howl, but 
this was for the purpose of attracting the attention 
of the man he had detailed to follow any one who 
should perchance come from the interior. 

He then summoned the other man to whom he 
said : 

‘T must enter. Thy companion follows a mur- 
derer!’’ 

His auditor advised summoning confederates in 
the neighborhood, but the youth feared loss of time. 

“Wait there in the shadows. I’ll knock and beg 
shelter. I must see beyond yonder doorway!” 

Glaccus rapped on the door. Thinking possibly 
that it was Galbus who had returned, the old hag 
drew the bolts and partly opened the door, between 
which and the threshold Glaccus placed his foot. 

“Who art thou to thus disturb poor people in the 
night?” she said to him. 

“Canst thou give me shelter ?” said Glaccus plain- 
tively. 

“Out with thee, villain!” retorted the hag, as she 
attempted to close the door. Glaccus forced it open, 
however, and clutched her throat. He was joined 
by his confederate who had come from the shadows. 
They gagged and bound her, and left her lying in 
a corner. They visited each of the rooms, holding 
their daggers exposed and ready for instant use. 
No sound disturbed the silence. The rooms were 


256 


as tU <SJoDs Decree 


deserted. In disappointment, Glaccus had decided 
to torture the old woman to see if he could learn 
anything from her, when suddenly they heard a muf- 
fled cry almost at their elbow. Their faces blanched, 
and the companion of Glaccus muttered a prayer to 
the gods for protection. This deserted house of 
mysteries in care of an old hag, who would have 
made a most excellent model for a witch, gave 
forth sounds from the dead! Glaccus grasped the 
arm of his companion and said : ‘Tool, ’tis a human 
cry!’’ 

As he turned he observed what appeared to be 
a wooden partition. With a piece of furniture he 
broke it down. A flight of wooden steps was dis- 
closed. Firmly grasping his dagger in one hand 
and holding the lantern high in the other, he started 
cautiously to descend. The sight that met his eyes 
caused a cry of joy to escape from him. Then his 
blood froze in his veins. The light from his lantern 
penetrated to the distant parts of the room and he 
saw a figure robed in white! The rays reflected 
from shining steel and as his eyes became accus- 
tomed to the disappearing gloom, he observed that 
it was a dagger held to the breast of a maiden. 

It was Decia! She spoke calmly. 

‘T know thee, Glaccus, thou evil man! ’Twas 
thou who stole me from my father who saved thee ! 
I will foil thee thus, if thou darest to move !” 

Her white hand firmly grasped the dagger. The 
face of Glaccus changed colour. 

“Decia! Decia!” was all he was able to whisper. 
His puzzled companion on the steps above stared 
first at the maiden and then at Glaccus. The face 
of the latter flushed with rage, as he thought : 


3s tbt <5oDs Decree 


257 


“She thinks this thing of me ! She thinks I have 
stolen her!” 

“Listen,” he said firmly, “save thy accusations 
until another time. We have come to save thee, — 
to return thee to thy father.” 

“Nay,” she replied, “ye shall not trick me thus 
to dishonour me! Move not, else I will force this 
dagger into my heart!” 

“Decia,” said Glaccus hoarsely, not daring to 
move, “Decia, thou canst not believe this thing of 
me!” 

Beads of perspiration now stood upon his fore- 
head. 

“Move not,” said Decia. “Sooner will I — die!” 

“Decia, by all the gods of heaven, earth and hell, 
I vow that I have come to save thee !” 

“Move not, beast and perjuror, move not!” she 
said, as her other hand moved to the dagger. 

Glaccus drew his arm across his forehead and in- 
wardly cursed himself for his gentleness to Mecinia 
in the grove. It was that which had first .destroyed 
Decia’s faith in him! Decia stood immovable and 
ready to press her dagger into her heart. 

Glaccus thought quickly, for he realized that im- 
mediate action was imperative. He told his com- 
panion to await him at the entrance. He then 
said in a voice calm and gentle, even such as he 
had used when he had spoken to her at the stream : 

“Decia, hear the last words of Glaccus. The 
time has come for me to pay my debt of gratitude 
to thy father, — and to convince thee of my inno- 
cence. I cannot leave thee here. Thy abductors 
may return any moment. I cannot convince thee of 
my innocence whilst I live. Therefore I will now 


258 


3s! tfte (Sotis Decree 


slay myself with this blade if thou wilt promise that 
at my death thou wilt go with my companion to thy 
father who awaits thee with face tear-stained as a 
woman’s.’^ 

He tore his tunic open, bared his chest and held 
his naked dagger to his heart. His companion, 
loathe to leave, had tarried near the opening at the 
top of the steps, and shouted: 

‘‘Madman! what art thou doing?” 

“Silence,” replied Glaccus, “and obey orders. The 
reward for finding her will be thine. Leave us.” , 

His companion stepped backward and Glaccus 
continued : 

“Decia, promise me and I will press this blade, — 
forgiving thee.” 

Decia screamed, “No! Thou art tricking me!” 
she said. 

Glaccus raised his dagger to strike his breast, but 
Decia screamed and again shouted : 

“No! no! stop! — •! cannot, — cannot see it! O, 
gods ! help me ! what shall I do ?” 

“Decia, promise, and thou shalt have freedom 
and will save thy father’s reason. Speak quickly 
for each moment is precious!” 

She stood gazing at him as she endeavoured to 
discover if sincerity or subterfuge underlied his 
words. However, it seemed that she was powerless 
to decide. She believed, — when she heard the soft 
tones of his voice, — ^yet feared ! What if her judg- 
ment should be wrong in trusting him ! More than 
aught else in the world she feared the loss of that 
one thing her father had taught her to value above 
life itself. Had not her jewelled dagger which she 
now held as the one saviour of her purity, been 


3s tfte (Sons Decree 


259 


given to her for the protection it could perchance 
some time afford ? Had the time come ? 

“Father!” she whispered brokenly, as she swayed. 
Glaccus broke the silence. 

“Thou dost not believe me !” he said sadly, “then 
I will decide for thee. Farewell!” 

He pressed his knife into his flesh. Decia 
shrieked. His companion on the steps above, how- 
ever, had descended to him and grasped the arm of 
Glaccus at the first movement. This action pre- 
vented the knife from penetrating deeply. Decia 
dropped her jeweled dagger and sank to the floor 
in. a swoon. The companion of Glaccus sprang 
toward her. 

“Foolish maiden!” he said, “whose eyes cannot 
believe such evidence!” 

He lifted her in his arms and mounted the steps. 
Glaccus was now lying there. His companion shook 
him, then lay Decia down. 

“Come, man, come! hold thyself together!” 

Glaccus was now bleeding freely from his wound, 
but managed to stagger to his feet, and leaning 
heavily on his companion, who had again taken 
Decia in his arms, followed along the hall leading 
to the street. In the excitement they had entirely 
forgotten the very existence of the old woman who 
lay bound and gagged in one of the rooms. When 
they reached the street the night air served to more 
fully revive Glaccus and he held the folds of his 
tunic to his wound to stay the flow of blood as he 
followed his companion through the “vicus.” They 
secured a crude litter and this, containing Decia, 
who had been revived, followed by Glaccus, who 
was supported by his companion, soon passed into 


260 


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the Forum Boarium. There they met some of the 
nocturnal apparitores, who secured another litter in 
which they placed Glaccus. The latter, before he 
had lost consciousness, cried : 

‘To the house of the Praetor Artus !” 


CHAPTER XLV 


Artus waited at his house during the entire morn- 
ing, hoping for some message from Glaccus. Event- 
ually he was rewarded by the appearance of one of 
the men who had been instructed to report to him 
during the day, and who said : 

“Three people have come from the house thus 
far, all of whom are being followed. Our leader, 
however, still watches there.” 

This was the only news that had been received 
previous to the arrival of Decius. 

“Decius,” said Artus, “we will hear something 
this night, — I give thee my word on it!” 

“What hast thou heard ?” said Decius hoarsely as 
he sprang to his feet. 

“Decius, — I cannot tell thee for I fear possible 
disappointment. Suffice it that all things possible 
are being done. Were I not scarred of face, I 
would not be here with thee ! Each move is neces- 
sarily being made by strangers. Our presence 
would upset my most careful plans!” 

“What strange words are these, that are already 
drying my tears with hope!” said Decius, brokenly. 

“They are not strange, for I told thee that thou 
wouldst hear something this night, — or the next. 
Now my lips will be silent as a mummy's upon thi? 
thing.” 


261 


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3s( ti)t (SoDg Decree 


He did not leave the senator, however, for a 
single moment, and thus the balance of the after- 
noon dragged wearily, as messenger after messen- 
ger arrived with no report of success in any direc- 
tion. The evening came, and this in turn was suc- 
ceeded by night. Ere the first vigil had passed, 
however, Decius, no longer able to restrain himself, 
arose tempestuously, interrupting the speech of 
Artus. 

“Cease! cease! dost thou think, Artus, I can re- 
main here inactive, listening to all things save that 
which concerns my child? By the gods, I want 
my ^lamb’ and thou and Rome be darhned until I 
get her, — or vengeance ! My cloak ! my cloak !” 

Artus changed colour, arose, and walked slowly 
toward him. 

“Decius,” he said, “I beg of thee to wait awhile. 
What couldst thou gain in the streets? Wait until 
the end of the next vigil and I will go forth with 
thee.” 

“Wait! why wait? Why not now? I demand to 
know the locality of that place and I vow by Jupi- 
ter! that single handed, I will burn, torture, slay, 
and gain the information that in thy cruelty thou 
dost dare to withhold from me!” 

He brought his great fist down upon a small table 
of cedarwood on goats^ feets of bronze, splitting it. 

“Decius,” said Artus firmly, “thy manner is un- 
manly!” 

“Unmanly, sayest thou? Now, by Hercules! I 
will not forgive thee, if thou hast made me waste 
a single precious moment in false hope ! — Even now 
the second vigil is close at hand I” 


30 tfie (©000 Decree 


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Pale and calm, Artus walked to the end of the 
atrium, where he took from the wall his sword, — 
the sword he had worn when he had first met De- 
cius at Philippi! Slowly he handed it to the sena- 
tor. He held the weapon, handle foremost, toward 
Decius, who took it mechanically. Then Artus said 
gently : 

“Thou canst slay me, Decius, for the grief I share 
with thee!’’ 

Decius turned from him and held his disarranged 
toga before his eyes, but Artus placed his arm across 
the shoulder of the senator and said : 

“Forgive me, Decius, I was wrong to answer thee, 
yet thou didst stab me with thy words.” 

“Forgive thee ?” queried the now surprised Decius 
as he turned, “I, forgive thee, I who thrust! Nay, 
bear with me, my Artus, — ^bear with me yet awhile.” 

“And have I made complaint, O, Decius?” They 
clasped wrists. 

The third vigil was close at hand when they were 
aroused by the sound of a loud voice in the vesti- 
htilim and the ostiarius rushed into the atrium stut- 
tering in his excitement. He had been followed by 
the old Thracian slave of Decius, who had come un- 
bidden to the “insula” of Artus, to be thus near the 
master, whom he worshipped. Tears were streaming 
down his aged cheeks, as he stood before Decius 
and in a voice almost a whisper, said : “Noble 
master 1” 

Decius, observing his emotion, and fearing pos- 
sibly that the news he brought would be the worst 
that could possibly be borne to his ears in this life, 
quickly clapped his hands over the mouth of the 
slave, saying : 


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'Wait! wait! until I summon courage to hear 
thy words ! O, great gods have mercy on me !” 

Artus had rushed to the vestihuht^m, unable to 
bear the suspense. Meanwhile Dccius had loosened 
his hold on the Thracian and said : 

“Now speak quickly, does — does she live?” 

“Alive and here, praised be the gods!” was the 
reply. 

Decius heard a great shout of joy. It was the 
voice of Artus, who now rushed speedily in the 
atrium carrying in his arms a burden, covered by 
a cloak. Decius saw some golden curls peeping 
from beneath. With hasty strides he rushed for- 
ward, clasped the precious burden to his chest. 

Eurycele had been aroused by the excitement and 
peeped into the atrium. She went to Artus and 
threw her arms about him and wept as if for joy, 
though hardly knowing why, for the recovery of 
the maiden had again brought into her life the 
woman who was her one and only rival! Artus, 
however, overcome with joy at the success of his 
plans, had but little time for Eurycele this moment. 
Meanwhile Decius had been caressing Decia even 
as her mother would have done had she been there 
to clasp her child to her bosom. Decia was now 
weeping softly, as a tired child. 

Decius was calling her by a dozen endearing 
terms, — called upon the shade of his wife to witness 
the recovery of her child, — and vowed a hundred 
times that henceforth Decia must needs remain for- 
ever within his sight! 

They had forgotten the chief combatant in this 
battle against the unknown. Glaccus remained at 


30 tht (5oD0 Decree 


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the vestibidum, where his wound was being roughly 
bandaged by a slave. 

Artus was gazing fondly at Decia and did not 
observe the questioning glances of Eurycele, who, 
with wavering steps, now left the atrium, nor was 
her absence noted, but in the privacy of her cubi- 
culum, she sank upon a couch and murmured 
hoarsely : 

“Fortunse speaks the truth! Artus loves her!” 

The praetor at this moment was standing before 
Decius and his child. His face was clouded as he 
listened to Decia. 

‘‘And thou sayest,” he queried, “that no harm 
was done to thee save by the old woman ?” 

“Aye, yet she blamed me and all patricians for 
the loss of her son, — a beast indeed, if like his 
mother!” 

The brow of Artus wrinkled. 

“No word of ransom!” he mused, “Then 'tis some 
enemy of Decius who aimed to strike his heart with 
a shot as excellent indeed as that of the Balearic 
archers !” 

He then walked to the vestibuhim, and led Glac- 
cus into the atrium. 

“Thy work was nobly done, Glaccus,” he said. 
“Thou shalt rest here with me this night, and on the 
morrow tell me the details. A slave will take thee 
to a cubiciilum. Yet stay, first thou shalt hear the 
thanks of Decius. I doubt not that the maiden has 
already told thee hers.” But Glaccus replied : 

“At this moment I would rather rest. I strove 
to repay my debt. No thanks are needed.” 

“Yet, Glaccus, thou hast changed thy station from 


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that of debtor to creditor! On the morrow then 
thou shalt hear such thanks from a father as ne’er 
before was given in Rome! This, I promise thee, 
Glaccus, my friend.” 

They clasped hands. Glaccus smiled sadly as he 
followed a slave who led him to a tubiculum which 
adjoined the peristyle. 

The strain was beginning to tell on the youth, 
and he whispered inaudibly: 

*‘Aye, she has indeed told me her thanks ! accused 
me of being a perpetrator of the crime! Yet I 
thank the gods that it was I that saved her!” 

‘‘Spread the news of my joy, Artus,” said Decius, 
“and take measures to punish the ruffians.” 

“Alas, Decius! In the excitement, that part of 
it was neglected by those who served us. At this 
moment, too, Glaccus suffers from a wound. He 
now rests yonder in a cuhiculum.” 

“Glaccus, sayest thou, — the young gladiator?” 
said Decius in astonishment. “How comes he into 
this matter?” 

“Aye, Glaccus,” replied Artus, “who has done 
his work ably, upon a single clue that I gave him! 
It was the knife we found at the stream that led us 
to Decia.” 

“Now by the gods, I know not what to say! 
Glaccus, suffering from wounds received while sav- 
ing my child, though he had never seen her! How 
strange is life, for thus he repays me a thousand- 
fold, — yet stay, can it be, think you, Artus, that he 
could have had a hand in this to share a reward? 
While admitting his courage and service, I know 
naught of him save that he is a product of the glad- 


33 tbt (S 0 I 13 Decree 


267 


iators’ barracks, — and too, thou knowest, 'of much 
importance is early training.’ ” 

These thoughtless words of Decius, whose mind 
now dwelt upon the punishment of the guilty, served 
to convince Decia even more forcibly that the opin- 
ion she had formed of Glaccus was the correct one, 
nor had his dagger-play on the steps removed the 
impression. She reasoned that perchance he had 
been compelled to “rescue” her speedily, fearing 
that suspicion might fall on him. 

“He is an evil man,” she thought, “who sought 
to make love to me and embraced another woman, 
whilst I, the daughter of Decius, awaited him!” 

Artus was disappointed at the words of Decius. 

“Thou dost surprise me, Decius! This is the 
first time I have ever seen thee unjust — or ungrate- 
ful!” 

“Nay, mistake not my words, Artus, — yet I con- 
fess that I am all at sea, and too, am most surprised 
that he doth not show himself for thanks and the 
reward !” 

“And that very fact, Decius, makes him more a 
man. And thou, too, Decia! Hast thou no word 
of praise for thy rescuer?” 

“There were two of them,” she replied, “and 
father will reward them.” 

“Thou art mistaken, Decia, there was but one, 
and that one, Glaccus. The other is a man I sent, 
together with a dozen of his kind, to scatter nearby 
and to aid Glaccus if called upon. To Glaccus goes 
the honour and reward, else will the justice of the 
new praetor be a thing at which all Rome can 
sneer.” 


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"^Attach no importance to my hasty words, Artus,” 
said Decius, ‘‘I will be guided by thee/^ 

"Thou shalt indeed in this, if in no other thing 
henceforth. Justice prompts my words.” 

""Artus, be not annoyed at me. Send the youth 
to me at once.” 

""That I cannot. He is wounded, has not closed 
his eyes since the third day back, and I promised he 
shall rest undisturbed until the morrow.” 

At that moment, however, a figure, bandaged at 
the chest, walked from the fauces behind Decius. 

""Thou hast no need to send for me,” said Glaccus, ‘ 
as his eyes flashed. ""The room I lay in was there 
behind thee and I was compelled to hear thy words. 

I seek no reward. I strove to partly repay my debt 
to thee. I am a free man, — no slave — and if it 
please the noble praetor Artus I will henceforth look 
to him for patronage.” 

""My speech was hasty, Glaccus. I will reward 
thee. I am not such a man as pleads, Glaccus, yet 
I say I will do right by thee.” 

""Yet,” said Glaccus, ""I have heard thee plead, 
aye, even to thy slaves, when thy child was absent !” 

At these words Artus interrupted. 

""Silence, Glaccus ! Retire to thy cubiculum. For- 
get not that thou art my guest !” 

""If thou too, Praetor Artus, doth not believe in 
me, then I will be a guest this night at the gladia- 
tors* barrack whence I come.** 

""Nay, Glaccus,** said Artus, as he approached the 
youth, upon whose shoulder he placed his hand, ""I 
do believe in thee, albeit thou didst neglect to cage 
a single guilty wretch, though thy companion said 


3s tlje (Sods Decree 


269 


that one was bound and gagged! On the morrow 
we will speak further of the matter.” 

‘'Aye, on the morrow, we will speak, yet never 
more of this. The senator can keep his reward. I 
did not work for that.” 

With these words, and head erect, Glaccus re- 
turned to the cubiculum. 

“Gods!” said Decius when he left, “I like that 
youth and he shall have double the reward and aught 
else that pleases his fancy, but thou knowest he is 
young; — therefore I did not give way too much to 
him. Youth needs a master to control it. So be 
it, Artus, that thou sayest he ‘snatched my lamb 
from the wolf,’ I will believe I owe him the happi- 
ness of my future life. Send him to me early on 
the morrow.” 

“I’ll try,” said Artus calmly. 

Artus despatched couriers to the villa and to 
friends in Rome. He then summoned Hercules, and 
accompanied by several other strong armed slaves, 
sallied forth, led by the companion of Glaccus who 
guided them in the direction of the hovel whence 
Decia had been rescued. 

When they approached the vicus, however, they 
observed that a crowd had gathered. There was a 
fire which sent forth dense smoke from a row of 
houses. 

“By Hercules!” said the companion of Glaccus, 
“one of those houses that burns is that from which 
we rescued her!” 

Artus frowned. He was deeply disappointed. 

“The villains have covered their trail. There is 
more in this than the mere stealing of a maiden. 


270 tbt <^otis Dcctee 

O, Glaccus, thou didst complete but half thy work !” 
he mused. 

When he arrived home again, he found Eurycele 
awaiting him. Tears were on her cheeks. 

*‘0, my Artus, dost thou no longer love me ?” she 
asked. 

“Tears, Eurycele!” he said, “nay, this should be 
a house of joy! Come to my arms and tell me of 
thy new fancied trouble, — or is it perchance that 
thou hast taken the contagion of sadness in these 
past two days?” 

Not knowing what to say, or how to tell the story 
of her fears, Eurycele remained silent, amidst the 
gentle caresses that Artus bestowed on her. 

Decia reclined on the bed in the cuhicuhim striv- 
ing to keep her eyes open. Not so Decius, who for- 
got this fact in his joy of the moment. 

“And thou shalt tell me everything that hap- 
pened,” he said. 

“O, dearest father, I am so tired. On the morrow 
we will talk of it, yet — yet, thou wouldst please me 
better by helping me forget the hours I was away 
from thee.” 

“Aye, thou art right, my lamb, yet I must tell 
thee this, that kind actions oft beget rewards be- 
yond measure! I saved a bleeding thing from the 
sand of the arena. He has now saved thee for me. 
Who says that the gods see not our smallest actions ? 
Know, that each hour thou wert absent thy blessed 
mother, — the gods guard her shade ! — was with me 
in spirit. She, thou knowest, would weep if a fly 
fell into the wine. She was all tenderness and heart 
-even as thou art, and — and has made me better.” 

“Nay, father, not as I am, not as I am,” she said 


30 tbt (S5oD0 Decree 


271 


as she started to weep. She thought of Glaccus, and 
his wound, -T-and of her harsh words which he had 
overheard. 

“Cease, precious one, cease! no tears now, save 
tears of joy, — a thousand thousand joys, for De- 
cius has his damb^ again !’* 


CHAPTER XLVI 


Bassus walked thoughtfully through the Forum 
during the first vigil. Many of the shops were now 
deserted, but a number of people were on their way 
to resorts of pleasure in the Subura, there to spend 
their time carousing and drinking in the tabernae 
where they would be entertained by dancing girls. 

He had just left the cozy little home that had 
been provided by Artus for him and Nydia. He 
could still feel her warm kiss on his lips. Her 
parting words: “Do not tarry long, my Bassus,’’ 
still rang in his ears. 

“She’s a good little woman!” he thought, “aye, 
treats me gently, yet this life is most tiresome. I 
am worse than a slave ! I dare not breathe for fear 
it be against the orders of my father! My money 
allowance, too, is not generous.” 

Eventually he arrived at the house of Donatus, 
who received him cordially. 

“Welcome, Bassus! yet why thus serious? Has 
not Fortune smiled on thee? Art thou not happy 
in thy home with the gentle wife of thy bosom?” 

“Aye, that’s the trouble, Donatus, she is too gen- 
tle ! yet I would not see a gold piece were it not for 
Nydia. My father holds me to each sesterce.” 

Suddenly his face brightened and he approached 
Donatus, into whose ears he whispered : 

“Hast thou the girl safe ? When — can I see her ?” 

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273 


Donatus smiled disgustedly. 

“Bide thy time, Bassus. Thou art not aged yet! 
Wouldst thou have wine? The atrinensis will see 
that thou art served. I must speak to Fortunse 
upon important business.’^ 

Mecinia entered. 

“Art thou satisfied, Donatus, that things go so 
well?” 

“Aye, beautiful one, yet all Rome is roused. I 
dare not dream of the result of discovery.” 

“Donatus, thou dost tire me, — yet what dost thou 
propose to do with the girl ? Why not slay her and 
have done with it? Surely thou dost not intend to 
give her to yonder dog.” 

She looked in the direction in which Bassus had 
gone. ^ 

“Not — not yet, but who knows, perchance some 
day I will fasten this crime upon him and thus split 
for all time the friendship of the damned Decius 
and the prowling praetor Artus. Thou knowest, 
Fortunae,” he continued, with an evil smile, “men 
love not the fathers of sons when the latter rape the 
beloved daughters of ” 

“And dost thou so intend, — with Bassus ?” q^ueried 
Fortunae. 

Donatus laughed. 

“Fortunae, it would be no mean jest to make Bas- 
sus commit a crime that will send Decius back his 
child with a most different character to that she 
owned when he had last seen her 1” 

At that moment Galbus rushed into the atrium, 
his garments awry, his face pale. Bassus at this 
moment entered with a half emptied goblet in his 
hand which trembled visibly. 


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as the (©ons Decree 


“Donatus,” said Galbus, “ten thousand furies on 
the luck I” He then stooped forward and whispered, 
“Decia has been rescued!” 

The senator sprang to his feet as though he had 
been struck. The face of Mecinia turned ashen. 
Bassus dropped his goblet on the mosaic floor. 

“What! Galbus, what! nay, thou art mad!” 

“Aye, mad from rage — though not in mind!” 

He then told them his story, concluding: “and 
when I returned I found the old woman lying bound 
and gagged in a corner. Why they did not take her 
I know not! In this at least. Fortune did not desert 
us. I feared, however, they might return for the 

purpose and ” bending low he whispered in the 

ear of Donatus, “I set fire to the house — have de- 
stroyed her and all other evidence, — even now half 
the street is ablaze!” 

“Ah, Galbus, then we are safe, — at least for 
awhile! That was ably done. What further hast 
thou learned?” 

“Naught else, for I fled, as I saw the house con- 
sumed. Thou knowest I rented it and the owner 
suspects nothing, — yet, alas, Decius has his child 
again ! O, fool, fool that I was, not to slay her, even 
against thy orders !” 

“Fool, Galbus, what hast thou against Decius?” 

“I hate the man, — for certain reasons, — else I 
vow, Donatus, I would not have joined thee in this 
risky business. Come, give me my reward, — I must 
have it now !” 

“What sayest thou? Dost demand reward for 
capturing a ‘bird’ that thou didst release?” 

“ ’Twas no fault of mine. Thou shouldst have 
kept her. I did my work. I got her whilst thou 


3s tbe <5oDs Decree 


275 


didst lie here at ease on thy soft cushions. Give 
me my money. I leave Rome at sunrise.” 

“Galbus, art thou weakening? Nay, man, I have 
other work for thee. Thou shalt remain !” 

''Nay, I want my money; no treachery now; re- 
member I am desperate! I must seek safety in 
flight. Thou canst well advise, 'remain,’ for thy 
name is not mixed in with it!” 

"Galbus, thou art a fool! Thy very flight might 
create suspicion. I have the money for thee, yet 
stay in Rome I say. Thou didst not use thine own 
name when thou didst rent the house, didst thou?” 

"I was no such fool, yet if I should be recog- 
nized !” 

"Then thou hadst best remain indoors, here with 
me,” said Donatus, who was gratified to discover 
some means that would enable him to keep his fel- 
low-conspirator under surveillance. 

"Perchance thou art right, Donatus, I’ll remain 
for awhile. Lock up this little toy for me and do 
not forget that it is my booty, — for ’tis valuable. 
The gems are precious!” 

He took from his waist a little jewelled dagger 
which had been dropped by Decia in the cellar where 
she had been kept a prisoner. 

"I found it, for the girl dropped it. Forget not 
that ’tis mine!” 

"O,” said Fortunae, "’tis beautiful! Would that 
I could own it!” 

"Thou canst own it, Fortunse, suffice Galbus name 
a reasonable price.” 

" ’Tis worth at least five thousand sesterces. The 
stones are real,” said Galbus. 

"Then take it, Fortunse. I will add that amount, 


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tfte <®oDS Decree 


Galbus, to thy reward, but thou, Fortunae, shalt keep 
it far from the sight of human eyes !’’ 

The eyes of Bassus sparkled with avarice. 

“Would that it were mine!” he thought. “Fd 
pick the stones and sell them to old Simonides I” 

He noted that Fortunae had placed it in the folds 
of her stola. 

“Fortunae,” said Donatus, “the hour grows late. 
Seek thy bed. I have important business with Gal- 
bus, yet on thy way, pour out for Bassus here a 
goblet of old Falernian.” 

Thus he dismissed Bassus, who walked with Me- 
cinia to a small triclinium adjoining. 

As Mecinia raised her arm to pour the wine, and 
in her haste to rid herself of Bassus, the dagger of 
Decia fell to the floor, which, being covered by a 
rug, gave forth no sound. Bassus dropped his cloak, 
as though accidentally, thus covering the dagger. 

“Thou hast no need to tarry, good Fortunae,” he 
said, “this wine tastes so good that methinks Fll 
stay, — and take another,” and he laughed. 

“As thou wilt, Bassus. Fortune sleep with thee,” 
she said as she retired. 

Quickly Bassus stooped and placed the dagger in 
the folds of his tunic. He then bade adieu to Do- 
natus and hastened into the street. 


CHAPTER XLVII 


Artus entered his atrium the following morning 
and he found Glaccus awaiting him. 

*‘Ha, Glaccus, so thou hast returned! That was 
a shabby trick, — for Decius asked for thee. Thy 
wound then cannot be serious, and I am glad. Yet 
why didst thou flee like a thief in the night?” 

Glaccus made no answer. 

‘T — I left to breathe the morning air. When I 
returned they had gone.” 

‘Thou best, Glaccus! Thou meanest that thou 
didst return when thou didst know they had gone.” 

“Well, good praetor, — thou — thou dost not un- 
derstand.” 

“I understand thee too well, Glaccus. Stubborn- 
ness is a sore trait. Decius hath a splendid heart. 
He is more than grateful and said that he was 
grieved because thou wert not here when he left. 
He invites thee to his villa with me.” 

“I am grateful to thee, good Praetor Artus, yet 
in this one thing I am firm. I will trouble Decius 
no further. Thou canst do a service for me. I 
wish to join the foreign legions. Canst thou place 
me where there is action?” 

“O, thou youth of impulse!” said Artus. “Still 
grieved at the words of Decius! Well, I’ll think 

277 


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30 tfte <SJoli0 Decree 


Upon it, but I warn thee, I like thee too well, Glac- 
cus, to lose thee hastily. Decius, too, is a man of 
power.” 

“In this thing I am set. He accused me unjustly 
and — yet it matters not. I desire one thing — to 
get away from Rome. Wilt thou do this for me ? I 
will be grateful and will not stain thy patronage.” 

“Peace, Glaccus, peace! Come, eat with me, for 
I am starved. Thou too art empty. Let me see thy 
wound.” 

He opened the tunic of Glaccus at the breast and 
remarked : 

“ ’Tis a deep scratch and thou art not fit to join 
the foreign legions this moment!” 

Glaccus looked disappointed. 

Artus laughed, and they walked in silence to the 
summer triclinium where they partook of a light 
meal. At its close Artus handed a purse to Glaccus. 

“Glaccus, here is some money; whil’st thou dost 
remain here with me, I will supply thy wants and 
charge it up to thee, — at some future time.” 

The indefatigable Hercules came into the triclini- 
um, stripped for exercise with his master. 

“Hercules, this youth here would prove a most 
apt pupil for thee! He doth not even realize how 
famous he has become! His combat against ‘The 
Brute^ is still talked about when games are held !” 

The face of Glaccus brightened. Hercules felt the 
muscles of the youth. 

“Thou hast good sinews, but thou art too lean,” 
he said. 

“Go forth, Glaccus, and buy some proper gar- 
ments. Thou art ill-robed as a beggar !” said Artus. 


30 tfte <goO0 Decree 279 

The youth left the peristyle^ and Artus said to 
Hercules ; 

“Now that is what I call a man, — unlike — unlike 
my Bassus, whom thou knowest hath the falling 
sickness if his cloak bears the smallest stain!’' 

At that moment Bassus entered. 

“I come, father,” he said, “to express my great 
joy at the recovery of Decia I” 

“How fares Nydia? I trust she has no cause for 
complaint ?” 

“No, father, for I am most kind to her and love 
her well.” 

“That I doubt not, — so long as she is not sick. 
Soon I will have office for thee. An idle youth be- 
comes in age a beggar. No lazy life for a son of 
mine! I’ll speak further on it next calends/* 

The face of Bassus almost paled. The one thing 
that he dreaded most would ere long be his portion ! 

“Work! Gods!” he mused. “Damn the soul of 
Donatus! He got me into this, which hath small 
profits! Work! Nay, sooner would I starve!” 

“Now remain, Bassus, and take thy exercise with 
Hercules.” 

When the exercise was over, Bassus again donned 
his garments and left the house. After he had gone, 
Eurycele, coming into the peristyle, was attracted 
by a glittering object lying at the base of a column 
which partly hid it. She picked it up and was 
startled at its beauty. It was a small dagger, glit- 
tering with gems ! She took it to her cuhiculum to 
examine it closely. After she had left the peristyle, 
Bassus returned to it. 

He was in a fever of excitement, which he sue- 


280 


3$ ttft (goQg Decree 

ceeded in hiding, however, but his glances sought 
the floor as he slyly searched for the jewelled dagger 
that had formerly belonged to Decia. Not finding 
it, he walked to the street. “At least none saw me 
lose it, thanks to Fortune !” he murmured. 

Meanwhile Eurycele turned the dagger about in 
her hands, admiring the vari-coloured rays that 
came from it. 

Artus, who had returned unexpectedly, passed the 
entrance to her room. He saw her sitting there ex- 
amining a jewelled object. He entered softly, and 
as he approached her was struck dumb, for he recog- 
nized it! 

“What hast thou there?’' he said in a whisper. 
His face in the meantime had become ashen in 
colour. 

“ ’Tis a pretty trinket I have found. O, Artus, 
why dost thou stare thus at me ?” 

“Found, sayest thou, found where ?” 

“Artus! — lying in the^ — atrium! Artus don’t 

stare at me thus! What ails thee, lord?” 

“’Tis thou that aileth me! thou foul carrion! 
Give it to me ! I see it all now ! Thou didst cause 
all the anguish, thou didst inspire the foul deed! 
Confess it to me, else wilt thou go forth into the 
streets !” 

Eurycele shrieked and clasped her hands to her 
heart. 

She was unable to speak. 

“Confess thy crime ! I say !” he continued, his face 
now livid with anger. “Confess thy intrigues with 
ruffians and stealers of maidens! Now I take no 
stock in thy fidelity, else how couldst thou consort 
with such company ! Confess, I say !” 


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281 


Eurycele stretched out both her hands toward 
him and approached him with mouth open and hesi- 
tating steps. 

‘‘Artus, O, — my Artus, — thou art ill in mind! I 
do not understand thy words!” she managed to 
utter. 

‘‘Foul thing,” he cried, “whom I have nurtured in 
my heart. O, I will go mad to think how I was 
duped ! Full well I know the punishment that should 
be meted out to thee, sexless one. The blade should 
cut the FVR upon thy brow! — yet — ^yet go forth 
forever ! Thus I mitigate thy punishment, although 
by Jupiter! I know it is against the very laws of 
justice ! Go forth !” 

He pointed to the door of the cubiculum. 

“Go — forth, — sayest — thou!” said the now dazed 
Eurycele, “forth — O!” She swayed and fell against 
the wall. 

Artus turned, and placing his arm across his fore- 
head, staggered from the cubiculum. 

She, who knew his nature, realized that his words 
were final. She went forth indeed, and as she passed 
through the atrium, and the vestihulum, the slaves 
stared at her, bewildered at this sudden change in 
their beautiful mistress! Mechanically she walked 
across the Pons Cestius and the Pons Fabricius, and 
although the distance was far, passed through the 
Forum Boarium and the Vicus Tuscus in the Via 
Sacra, and entered the Forum. She heard nothing, 
saw nothing, although hundreds of pairs of eyes 
stared strangely at her. She walked as though she 
were in her sleep and they all made way for her. 
When she entered the Forum she came upon a statue 
of one of Rome’s former heroes. Then she laughed. 


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The white marble attracted her eyes and she stared 
at it, then walked around it. A number of people 
gathered about her. 

One of the crowd was a legionary. Before they 
could stay her hand she had rushed up to him and 
taking his sword from its sheath, threw herself 
upon it and the weapon entered her heart. A great 
shriek came from her — a shriek that ended in a 
sob! 

Shortly afterwards, Artus, preceded by lictors, 
crossed the Forum on his way to the Curia nearby. 
The crowd gave way before him, and as he looked 
he beheld the form of a woman whose face was now 
covered. One of the men volunteered the informa- 
tion that the woman had slain herself. 

“Look, noble Praetor!” continued the man in 
excitement, “hast thou ever seen a face so beauti- 
ful !” He drew the cloth from the face of Eurycele. 
Artus staggered, and for a moment it seemed that 
he would fall! His emotion touched a responsive 
chord in the hearts of the crowd. 

“Hail! noble Artus!” shouted some one in the 
crowd. “Rome is safe when such praetors guard 
her!” The people cheered, and a man cried: “He 
weeps at the death of a stranger!” “He loves the 
people !” said another. “Artus! Noble Artus.” 

This served to bring the praetor somewhat to 
himself. He lifted his toga up before his eyes and 
continued on his way to the curia, though his steps 
were faltering. With the courage of his race, he 
went to assume the duties of his office. None who 
heard him that day knew of the rent that had been 
made in the heart of the cold, calm magistrate, who, 
invested in his praetexta of office, decided the cases 


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that were brought successively before him. They 
would, however, have seen a far, far different picture 
in the house of Artus in the Janiculum, for when 
he returned there he went to the cubiculum of Eury- 
cele and sat on her bed — and buried his head in his 
hands ! 


CHAPTER XLVIII 


A week succeeding this tragic event, Artus and 
Decius were walking in the gardens of the villa. 

‘‘Alas, Artus,” said the latter, “it is not meet that 
I should strive to bend thy will in this, yet I cannot 
bear to think of losing thee. Well I know that the 
great metropolis must henceforth be to thee — an — > 
empty promise. How quickly events have moved, — 
and too, in the wrong direction !” 

“Thus speak the inexorable Fates, Decius. Mor- 
tals move when they pull the strings,” he said softly. 

“Thou already one of the praetoriif continued 
Decius, “and I had such great hopes for thee! I 
tell thee, were it not for my ‘lamb’ I would go with 
thee to Egypt 1 I must confess that upon hearing of 
Eurycele’s end I hoped to marry Decia to thee. 
Neither thou nor she would hear of it and I thought 
ye loved! Thus am I crossed again in my hopes!” 

“Decius, things are better as they are. We love 
— yet — not as lovers. From her own lips thou didst 
hear it.” 

“Nor, Artus, will she think of any other man! 
Thou knowest marriage is the proper state ; now she 
plagues my ears with her desires to go to Athens! 
Gods, what next! Truly I have spoiled her! Yet, 
thou canst not blind me ; thy aim is to find oblivion ! 
Again I vow by Jupiter! were it not for her, I would 
go with thee!” 


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“And none would be so welcome, Decius. Now, 
as to Bassus ; keep close watch on him. Guide him 
firmly, — if thou canst! — O, sorry task! The stated 
sum is to be given each calends to Nydia. In case 
I die, save for the portion the law decrees to Bassus, 
all is to go to Decia. Meanwhile most of my slaves 
will go to thy villa.” 

Decius grasped the hand of Artus and said : “Jupi- 
ter grant that thou wilt return to us,” but Artus 
remained silent. 

“Artus,” said Decius, “but one thing more. Thou 
didst neglect to discover and punish the abductors 
of my child.” 

“Alas, Decius, I cannot answer thee !” 

“Then blame me not, if I ask, what assurance 
canst thou give me that the foul deed will not be 
repeated ?” 

“None save this : the misled instigator of it has 
been consumed upon a funeral pyre.” 

He turned his head aside. 

“I do not understand thee, Artus,” said Decius. 

“Decius, why dost thou not spare me. Eurycele, 
through jealousy, was the cause. Let her shade rest 
in peace I” 

“What sayest thou, Eurycele? Gentle, loving, 
Eurycele, who cut her heart when she lost her rea- 
son?” 

“No, Decius, she cut her heart because I sent 
her from my door. I could not deliver to chains the 
mate that shared my life. I sought no further 
vengeance.” 

“O, Artus, hold thy steps, for I am dazed I Eury- 
cele, beautiful, gentle Eurycele, who worshipped 
thee ! I could weep in disappointment ! By Castor 1 


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I do forgive her! She knew not what she did! It 
was her love for thee that led her wrong! Poor 
Eurycele !” 

The lips of Artus quivered as he asked : 

“Hast thou had the urn containing the ashes de- 
posited in the sepulchre, Decius?” 

“Aye, Artus, nor do I regret that I was grieved, 
although it was my ‘lamb’ she had sought to strike ! 
’Twas love for thee did cause it. Poor, misguided 
thing of the Fates, — may thy shade rest in peace!” 

They continued their walk in silence for a period. 

“So Regus, Claudius and Lucius go with thee, — 
and Glaccus too!” said Decius, “Stubborn youth. 
Think of it ! Refused to come to me, the young ras- 
cal! Yet I like him. I was wrong.” 

“Hercules, too, goes with me! Thou knowest I 
have manumitted him, but he loves me, — and still 
clings to his former master. I could not gain for 
him, however, a place in the legion. He is a freed- 
man. The law of Augustus is strict in this. By 
Pollux! that all Romans but had the courage and 
the strength of my Gallic f reedman ! This completes 
the number, — saving the squadron for escort. We 
also take supplies to Gallus. Many other Romans 
pleaded to accompany me. Fools! they are avari- 
cious for the jewels and gold they think can be 
picked up in the very sands of Arabia Felix ! Regus 
and Hercules alone go because they love me, for 
Regus, thou knowest, is more fit to measure arms 
with women than with men! With heart joyous to 
serve me, he sent Bassus to me. Yet, ’tis not meet 
that I complain against a youth for whose very ex- 
istence I am responsible. Regus holds a firm place 


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in my heart, — would that he were my sonf May 
Fortune smile upon them all!” 

They came upon Decia surrounded by her hand- 
maids. Aegea sat reading in the shade of a tree 
nearby, and as she arose and joined the group, 
Decius said : 

‘‘Tell me, Aegea, who will take the place of 
Artus ?” 

“Will not the sojourn in Egypt be brief?” she 
asked. 

“Brief! Now, Aegea, thou hast touched a sore 
spot. Egypt is but a stopping place for him ! An 
army will invade Arabia Felix, — Arabia the Happy ! 
Nay, Arabia the Miserable I call it now ! Artus will 
hold command under Aelius Gallus, Legatus of Au- 
gustus.” 

Aegea looked up at him in surprise. 

“I thought — I thought it is to be a trip of pleas- 
ure !” 

“Of pain, rather,” said Decius. “The triremes 
sail from Brundisium within a month.” 

“Alas, Praetor Artus,” exclaimed Aegea, “that 
thou shouldst desert Decius! — and Decia — and all 
thy friends; yet I have heard of thy grief. Such 
is the common lot of most of us!” 

“Yet time heals all things, good Aegea,” said 
Artus. 

“Nay, not all of them, — not all of them,” she re- 
plied. 

Artus and Aegea sat together on a marble bench. 
In the distant fields they heard slaves whose frequent 
habit to mitigate their toil was to break into songs 
of their Fatherland! The Fatherland from which 


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the Roman eagles had torn them and brought them 
into slavery ! Often, however, their music conveyed 
notes of joy and contentment! Artus spoke. 

''Listen to yonder singers! ’Tis not power or 
wealth that brings happiness, O Aegea! Yonder 
slaves sing, while a man who wore the praetexta of 
praetorship leaves Rome to seek forgetfulness 
amidst the strife and action of war!” 

"O, the gods make sorry things of people!” 

"The gods!” he said, then he smiled cynically, 
"Nay, blame not the gods for crimes of men! Jupi- 
ter and all the rest of them have enough trouble, 
managing their own affairs, — if we are to believe 
Homer and rest !” 

"Thou’lt never win happiness until thou canst be- 
lieve in something !” she said gently. 

"Happiness! Ha! happiness is another myth! 
The only truly happy man I ever knew was one called 
Severus, — and he was drunk each moment of the 
day and night, — and then he died !” 

Artus laughed, but strange to say, Aegea, the 
plebian woman, felt a spark of pity kindle for this 
cold and cynical man who sat beside her, and she 
said : 

"I — I am sorry that thou art leaving Rome, ” 

and as he turned his head suddenly and looked at her, 
she added hastily, "because — ^because Decius is most 
unhappy about it.” 

He said nothing, but his lips formed the word, 
"Decius.” 


CHAPTER XLIX 


A week passed. The day after the morrow he 
would leave Rome! He drove along the Via Appia 
to spend the night and part of the next day with 
Decius, whom he found awaiting his arrival on the 
short road leading to the Via Appia. 

“Till coena, thy time belongs to me, Artus ; after 
that, — well — I have a surprise for thee; the friends 
who go with thee have been invited to a feast here.” 

“Decius ! Thy intention is noble and I must needs 
forgive thee!” 

“No women will grace the feast, yet I have in- 
vited Hercules, as a reward for his love for thee.” 

“That was right. Hercules is now a freedman 
and, too, my friend.” 

“I rest more easy when I know that his great 
body will be beside thee,” said Decius. 

“And now,” said Artus, “I would speak to Decia 
alone for awhile. Send for her.” 

She soon appeared, and as he walked toward the 
stream with her, he said : 

“Decia, this may be the last time, though I wish 
that I could carry with me through sun-scorched 
deserts, a memory of Decia, — not Decia of the world 
of men and women, — 'but as a child, that I carried 
upon my shoulder when her tiny fingers toyed with 
the horse-hair on my helmet those many years gone 
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by, — for thou hast indeed bloomed to womanhood !” 

Decia pressed his arm affectionately. 

'‘I wish that I could do something for thee,'’ she 
said earnestly. Tears glistened in her eyes. 

'‘Thou canst do something, Decia. Perchance it 
is the last thing I may ask of thee. ’Tis this : remain 
with thy father here for two years. He wants those 
years, aye, needs them. Be cheerful and strive to 
be happy, — though I know now what worries thee! 
He is the most noble and affectionate of Romans 
and worships thee. He has his sorrows, for he still 
grieves for thy mother. Thou dost owe him two 
solid years of added happiness. Thou art young 
and canst well spare them ! Give me thy vow.” 

“I could not refuse, — thy last request — ere thou 
dost leave,” she said. “Two years! A long time 
to remain here unhappy! Ecastor! thou hast my 
vow, so be it the Fates do not interfere!” 

She pressed her hands to her eyes. 

“The gods would not be so unjust to thy father, 
my Decia,” he said, as he kissed her forehead and 
held her to his breast. 

They returned to Decius to whom Artus said : 

“By Pollux! One thing more I have done for 
thee. Pve saved ‘thy lamb’ for thee, — for two full 
years ! Aye, I have her vow that she will not leave 
this place for two years ! That period longer canst 
thou have her as — a child !” 

“And dost thou mean, Artus, she will no longer 
plague my ears to go to — to Athens, to Baiae, — and 
the gods know where else besides ? Thou art indeed 
a wond’rous man who succeeds in gaining happiness 
for others, yet fails to win his own !” 

“The thing was simple. Thy daughter feared 


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that thou wouldst marry her against her desires. 
This fear removed, her golden vow was easy to 
obtain.’' 

Decius had not been sparing in his efforts to make 
the banquet a notable one. The great triclinium was 
lighted by double the usual number of lamps. His 
finest silverware, and richest iridescent glass were 
used, and festoons of acanthus and greens were 
hung in profusion. .Indeed, the preparations had 
been under way for several days past! Choicest 
Falernian wines were taken from the cellars for the 
occasion. Numerous slaves sped hither and thither 
and there was much feasting and drinking amidst 
the buzz of conversation of the guests who wore the 
coloured synthesis, and whose brows were adorned 
with chaplets of young myrtle and Milesian roses. 

‘What further news of Arabia, Artus?” queried 
Decius. 

“Little more than I told thee. It is said that the 
great emporium of the spice trade there holds a 
treasury of ages past. They say Augustus is hungry 
for success in this, — although thou knowest his plan 
of government does not aim evidently at the con- 
tinual extension of dominion.” 

A murmur of excitement flowed through the as- 
sembly, the guests discussing with each other the 
possibility of rich spoils for those fortunate enough 
to take part in the campaign. 

“Has further word been heard from Callus?” con- 
tinued Decius. 

“Aye, he said,” replied Artus, “that Syllaeus, a 
minister of Obodas, the king, will guide the galleys 
and transports across the sea to a landing point of 


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vantage. Thus, Gallus hopes to save a tiresome 
march of many days! I go holding rank under 
Gallus. 

In their anxiety to lose no word each guest leaned 
forward, and it was while Artus was speaking that 
two women quietly entered the faiwes. They were 
Aegea and Decia, the latter having coaxed the “gen- 
tle widow” to steal unbidden on the scene. Thus 
she hoped to glean some news of the dreaded cam- 
paign. 

“They say our Cappadocian steeds are no match 
for Arabian horses,” said Claudius. “Small chance 
for sword play if our cavalry with weight of metal 
cannot overtake the enemy! Canst thou tell us, 
noble Decius, aught of this?” 

“A mounted legionary is a match for a dozen 
such barbarians in actual combat!” said the sena- 
tor. 

Decia asked Aegea tremulously : 

“Dost thou think father speaks the truth, or are 
his words to lend courage to Roman arms?” 

“Thy father is brave and sees no danger in any- 
thing, Decia, save that which concerns thee.” 

“Gallus,” continued Artus, “will rely more upon 
his infantry and said that he will take with him a 
thousand Nabathaeans and five hundred Jews; the 
latter should know the country and its habits well, 
and too, they make most excellent slingers, — abili- 
ties they inherit, no doubt, from little David, who 
reached the throne through just such a shot!” 

Decius now spoke. 

“But one thing has crossed me at this banquet — 
which I hope to see in duplicate when ye return, 
laden with spoils and honour, — ^but one thing, and 


30 tfte (SaD0 Decree 


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laugh not, — 'Glaccus of the arena is not here ! I am 
angry that he, small as a woman in this, holds out 
against me for some hastily spoken words!” 

Aegea and Decia leaned forward in excitement, 
as Artus replied: 

^‘Forgive the youth. I admit his stubbornness. 
However, I can assure thee, Decius, that the feeling 
he holds in his heart for thee is far different from 
hatred I” 

‘‘Yet,” continued Decius, “it is not meet that he 
who goes as thy personal attendant, should be 
absent.” 

As he uttered these words a shriek was heard, 
and the guests looked in the direction whence it 
had come. Decia had thrown herself into the arms 
of Aegea, for those words gave to the daughter of 
Decius her first intimation that Glaccus was to go 
on the campaign. 

Quickly Aegea led Decia to a cubiculum. 

Decius sent slaves to discover the meaning of 
the interruption, and Aegea told one of them to 
say that a handmaid had become ill. The gathering 
at length dispersed. The guests, who were all to 
remain at the villa over night, were conducted to the 
guests’ cubiculcu. An hour later the entire villa 
was shrouded in silence. 

Decius, however, walked up and down the peri- 
style for an hour before he sought his bed. 

“Aedepol I Damn this campaign I” was all he said. 


CHAPTER L 


The morning dawned clear and warm. 

‘‘ ’Tis a favourable omen” said Decius to Aegea 
as they walked toward the gateway. Decia loitered 
behind them. “I am surprised to see how sadly 
Decia takes it! Truly she loves Artus though, 
alas! not as a lover!” 

To the villicus at the entrance, Decius said : 

“Summon the entire familia, and get the flowers 
ready to speed the soldiers royally.” 

The villicus rushed quickly away. Decius, Decia, 
and Aegea sat in the small summer-house near the 
main pathway. Soon the decuriae of slaves came 
through by-paths. All carried flowers or freshly cut 
branches from the trees and shrubs. Early indica- 
tions betokened marked enthusiasm. 

Ere long they heard a noise growing louder each 
moment, — a metallic sound accompanied by a rumb- 
ling. Sounds of mounted men and heavy wagons 
came from the paved “way.” These became louder 
as the greave-covered legs of horsemen came in fre- 
quent contact with other accoutrements. The notes 
of the lituus were borne through the air and soon the 
crested helmets of the vanguard could be seen as it 
wheeled from the Via Appia into the branch road. 
These halted and from behind them rode a figure 
mounted on a superb black horse which danced with 
action. The rider wore a plumed helmet of chased 


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295 


silver, and a corselet composed of chiseled metal 
scales overlapping each other and shining forth from 
beneath the sagum, or military cloak, fastened over 
his shoulders from which it had been thrown back. 
The greaves on his legs were in keeping with the 
helmet. It was Artus. Closely following him was 
a rider on a steed smaller than that of his com- 
mander, but one that was almost as fiery. This 
was Glaccus, the personal attendant of Artus. They 
were in turn followed by Claudius, Regus, and Lu- 
cius, the two latter, however, garbed as civilians. 
Hercules brought up the rear, but was not in uni- 
form, for no freedmen were enrolled in the ranks 
at this period. 

The turma, or troop of cavalry, and the baggage 
wagons halted on the Via Appia while Artus and 
the rest rode up the branch road to the entrance of 
the villa. Artus sprang from his horse which he 
left in charge of Glaccus, and walked toward Decius, 
who gave a signal and a tremendous shout arose on 
the air. Artus was showered with a hail of roses, 
violets, and other flowers, from the hands of hun- 
dreds of slaves. The troop on the Via Appia heard 
the shouts and cheered and clanged their swords on 
their shields. Decius placed his hand on the shoulder 
of Artus. In the other he held a sparkling jewel. 

‘This to Fortune! my Artus. Tis my most pre- 
cious and lucky fibula which I carried through all 
my campaigns ; it is for thee and my prayers to the 
gods for thy welfare go with it !’’ 

Artus clasped the wrist of Decius, — a tight hold, 
— as though perchance it was to be the last! The 
eyes of Aegea had filled, but she said, as she took 
the hand of Artus in both her own ; 


296 a0 tht Decree 

“I, too, pray that the gods will give thee back to 
us again!” 

"‘My thanks,” said Artus, “and may Jupiter pro- 
tect thee!” 

Decia now rushed forward and threw her arms 
about him. He pressed her close to his breast and 
kissed her forehead. She gave him something she 
had made for him ! It was a little bag, embroidered 
in silk with the word “Decia.” 

“This I made,” she said through her tears, “for 
the rich jewels thou wilt gain!” 

“And the richest ones of all shall be for thee!” 
he said. 

Then she left him and walked a few steps down 
the roadway. Her handmaids followed her. “Where 
love is, thither turns the eye,” and soon her glances 
sought Glaccus! It seemed that the attraction of 
her eyes caught his! He saw her, though as he 
gazed steadily at her, gave no sign of recognition! 
Then he reached forward and stroked the mane of 
Artus's steed, even as though there was no such 
thing in all the world as Decia ! She knew not what 
to do, but O, she longed to hear his voice, — longed 
to tell him she was sorry for her cruel words that 
night in the atrium of Artus ! If she could get some 
word from him to let her know that he did not hate 
her, she would give all her prized possessions ! She 
was rewarded, for Artus had signalled Glaccus to 
approach. 

The youth dared not disobey the orders of his 
commander, and, though much against his will, dis- 
mounted and strode across the road. He stood in 
the attitude of attention. 

“Glaccus,” said Artus severely, “the noble Decius 


3 g tU <goDg Dectge 297 

granted my request to clasp thy hand and wish thee 
well.” 

With precise military step Glaccus approached the 
senator. 

“Save thy steps for the field, Glaccus,” said De- 
cius. “Artus lied. I asked to shake thy hand as 
a friend, for I am thy debtor and regret any words 
of mine that may have hurt thee.” 

Without a word Glaccus grasped the wrist of 
Decius in both his hands, then bowed his head. 

“My thanks, noble Decius, my thanks to thee,” he 
said, as he continued to hold the wrist of Decius. 
The latter smiled with satisfaction. 

Glaccus then took Aegea in his arms. She wept, 
but did not speak. He then turned and there be- 
held Decia, who held her hand to her heart. Tears 
were in her eyes. 

“Decia,” said Decius, “give thy good wishes to 
Glaccus. Forget not that he was thy rescuer.” 

Tremblingly Decia approached the youth. 

“Glaccus,” she said brokenly, “Glaccus — I wish 
— thee — the protection of the gods. I am most — 
most grieved — to — to ” 

“Jupiter protect thee, my — nymph!” whispered 
Glaccus. 

She turned suddenly from him and buried her 
head in the bosom of Aegea. Once more Decius 
embraced Artus. 

“Vale, Decius !” said Artus. 

“Vale, my Artus!” replied Decius. 

At a signal from the zillicus a great roar virtually 
shook the air. Roses and violets again assailed the 
military tribune and his companions. This was the 
metal of love and Decius murmured to himself ; 


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“Would that thy enemies were so armed 

Decius gave the military salute. Artus strode 
down the roadway, followed by Glaccus. They 
vaulted on their steeds. Artus drew his sword, 
pointed toward the Via Appia, gave one sweep down- 
ward. They galloped to the Via Appia. 

The notes of the litims rang forth, — a long blast ! 
The troop moved. 

The rumble of the baggage wagons, rolling over 
the stones, was again borne through the air. It was 
all that remained to remind the occupants of the 
villa that Artus was still of this world! These 
sounds soon faded in the distance. The interrupted 
traffic of the Via Appia was resumed. This, how- 
ever, was but an incident in the life of Rome ! 


CHAPTER LI 


The Arabian desert at night ! Overhead a canopy 
of dark gray, illumined by a clear full moon and 
myriads of stars! On the sands lay the remnants 
of the legions of Callus! In the silvery light can 
be seen small banks of sand. It is the result of the 
attempt to make camp in accordance with the stern 
discipline of the Romans. Divested of their armor, 
which is piled in heaps about them, lie man and 
beast. At times a wave of groans floats through the 
air, but not borne on the breeze, for the atmosphere 
is still with oppressiveness. Another of those tor- 
ture-nights, — when the tongues of man and beast 
hang from parched throats, — when thirst intensifies 
the agony of wounds. They still suffer from the 
destructive diseases of the country, Stomacacce and 
Scelotyrbe, the former of the mouth, the latter of the 
legs and causing a paralysis, induced by impure 
water and certain plants which the soldiers used in 
their food. 

The remnants of the army of invasion into Arabia 
Felix! — Arabia the fruitful! Long months had 
passed and what an age it seemed! — months of 
marches and suffering, that had been prolonged by 
the treachery of guides! The veterans of the cam- 
paign into Yemen! Arabia the fruitful! Arabia 
the happy ! 

Who cares now for the wealth of the Sabaeans? 

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as tbe (©OHS Decree 


Precious drops of water are the jewels this night. 
A legionary suddenly goes mad in the midst of his 
comrades. He grasps his sword and shouting wildly, 
slashes right and left. A comrade stabs him to the 
heart. 

‘'There is enough trouble now without madmen in 
the ranks who slay their comrades !” he murmurs as 
he lies down again and strives to rest. Insects hover 
over the legions. Stings bring curses to the lips of 
those who are almost powerless against this new at- 
tacking army on the wing! The wounded beg and 
scream, — scream for “Water! Water!”, and curse 
the very gods whose protection they had sought ! 

What matter now the hopeful departure from 
Leuce-Come, the long marches, and the past vic- 
tories of those desert tracts, — the bloody battle of 
Asca, where ten thousand of their enemies lay, food 
for vultures after the fray ! What matters now the 
capture of Asca, nor that last failure before the very 
walls of Mariba, the capitol of the Rhammanitae, 
where scarcity of water had proven to be a stronger 
foe than the enemy! 

And then backward, — a long weary way backward 
to Negrana, of “Seven Wells”, — through the desert 
country to Chaalla and to Malothas on the blessed 
river, for there was to be found the precious water ! 
But now more of the cursed desert country with so 
few watering places — and to think that but seven 
men perished in battle! Disease, famine, thirst, — 
these are the unconquerable enemies against whom 
the thrust of sword is powerless ! O, that they had 
but arrived at Negra! 

“What we want now is water! The curses of 
Aeacus, Hecate, Cerberus and all the rest on this 


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301 


infernal region!” groaned a legionary in his ravings. 

Another shouted : 

“Not a gold piece to show, — naught but wounds, 
parched throats, swollen bodies, — stricken limbs and 
— Gods ! Thirst ! Retreat ? Why retreat ? Is it not 
better ten thousand times to die where there is water 
than live in these infernal tortures, whilst other 
Romans lie on their cushions, their fevered brows 
cooled by snow?” 

“Who said fevered brows?” shouted a compan- 
ion. “Fevered brows! — amidst the riches of the 
city where one has food and water — and tickets for 
the games for the asking, — there to be fed and en- 
tertained! What cursed fool said fevered? We are 
the fevered, — we who fight for Rome whil’st others 
wait in comfort for the jewels and gold we did not 
get!” 

“Fool! canst thou not hold thy tongue? I would 
have slept hadst thou not cried ! Lie still !” shouts 
a centurion, who must needs sleep in the ranks with 
his men to preserve peace amongst the sufferers. 

“Good Calchius, stick thy sword here!” said an- 
other, “I cannot bear this thirst, — my legs don’t 
move, — fire consumes my wounded stomach ! Help ! 
help ! I burn !” 

With variations, these words and scenes were re- 
peated throughout the entire camp. 

Within the tent of Gallus was Artus. Outside lay 
Glaccus and Hercules; “giant Hercules,” who that 
day at Negrani, grasped the eagle as the bearer fell, 
and carried it to victory with Artus slashing at the 
right of him, the naked sword of the tribune red 
with blood — and Glaccus bringing up the rear, with 
the legionaries following. Hercules, who, owing to 


302 ag tbt <goDg Decree 

the laws of Rome, could not be enrolled in the le- 
gions \ 

“Here is a tribune who leads T' said one, as Artus 
had sprung forward. 

“Hail! Artus!” they shouted as he carved a path. 

Hercules, fighting in the ranks of the Romans, had 
used the eagle as a spear to stab the desert bar- 
barians that day ! Hercules, who once was a slave ! 
“Peck, eagle, peck!” he had shouted. 

Gallus gave him a chain of gold, Artus, a clasp 
of the hand, and Glaccus placed his arm upon the 
shoulder of Hercules, — and Hercules could have 
wept! Pale, sick Regus composed lines of poetry 
on the courage of the freedman, comparing him to 
Horatius at the bridge! Lucius wrote a chapter 
on philosophy, treating of the power of excitement 
in battle over physical ability ! 

“Gods! canst thou sleep, Artus?” said Gallus. 

In the months of the campaign, misfortune had 
brought them closer to each other. Artus made no 
reply. 

“O! for sleep, Artus, — sleep!” continued Gallus, 
“I have not closed my eyes since we left Malothas ! 
Ten thousand curses on my ambition! I would 
give my house in Alexandria for a mouthful of 
poscaT 

Artus arose and went forth. His old wound in 
his side troubled him, had worried him throughout 
the entire campaign. His grief intensified his suf- 
fering. He went to the entrance of the tent. Her- 
cules and Glaccus both arose. 

“Whither goest thou, tribune?” asked the former, 
who strove to roll his parched tongue to ease his 
speech. Artus, as though he had not heard, continued 


303 


ag ti)c <goD0 a^ectee 

onward, his eyes flashing feverishly. He was close- 
ly followed by Hercules and Glaccus, the latter limp- 
ing slightly from a wound in the leg. 

“Our commander is indeed ill! Didst thou note 
he did not answer me?” said Hercules. 

“He suffers in the side,” replied Glaccus hoarsely. 

Artus sat down on the sand at the outskirts of the 
camp and stared straight ahead into vacancy. Her- 
cules brought some wood with which he built a 
fire, the smoke of which served to keep away swarms 
of insects. Soon Artus began to mumble, and as 
his voice grew louder his ravings were heard. 

“Good Aegea, give me some snow! Glaccus will 
not miss it! I would not take it if he needed it!” 

Suddenly he arose with a shriek. 

“Eurycele! Eurycele, thou hast taken all of it! 
Oh, ’tis for thy wound ! a wound, the gods did guide 
thy arm to give in justice! Yet — take the snow!” 

He then leaned his head on his hands. Soon his 
eyes closed in a sleep of weakness. 

“Glaccus,” whispered Hercules, “thus do men 
speak when they prepare for death!” 

Glaccus reeled at the words. 

“Hercules ! O, Hercules ! Is there not one drop 
of water in the camp?” 

“And dost thou think I would not get it if there 
was, — aye, even though it belonged to selfish Gallus 
himself?” 

“But, Hercules, must he die thus,— the greatest 
man among them all? O, Gods, I would give this, 
the only thing I value, — this piece of gold for a cup 
of water. Dost thou think that we could get a 
little water from some man who perchance has saved 
some ?” 


304 tfte (goDs Decree 

'‘Peace, Glacciis, peace. Who can strive against 
the gods !” 

Artus eventually sprang to his feet. 

“Peace, tribune,” said Hercules. 

“Ha! Then I dreamed!” he said as he seated 
himself v^eakly. Glaccus lay on one side of him, 
Hercules sat nearby. 

“Regus, poor Regus!” said Artus, “can nothing 
be done for Regus? He lies consumed with fever.” 

“And thou, too, art consumed with spells of 
fever,” said Hercules. 

Artus now stretched himself on the sand and held 
his forearm over his eyes. 

“Hold thyself together, until the morrow, tribune. 
Let not Rome hear of the failure from other lips 
than thine. Gallus did retreat too soon! Two more 
days and we would have been in Mariba ! therefore 
thou shouldst live to tell the story and vindicate the 
honour of the legions,” said Hercules. 

Artus remained silent, but Glaccus spoke. 

“On the morrow, we may get water. Green plants 
are in the sand and the wretch Syllaeus said, water 
is nearby. On the morrow we must get it, else will 
every living thing lie dead !” 

“Glaccus,” said Artus, “how is thy leg?” 

“It heals splendidly.” 

Artus examined the wound. 

“Water will wash it out, — it is not serious. Ha, 
what hast thou there about thy waist? A jewel, 
Glaccus ?” 

“Nay, ’tis but a trinket.” 

Hercules, anxious to have the mind of Artus oc- 
cupied, signalled Glaccus to show the trinket to 
Artus. The youth took it from his waist where it 


gg tfte (gong Decree ^ 

was tied with a cord that encircled his body several 
times. 

Artus took it mechanically. 

“ ’Tis heavy! ’Tis gold!” 

‘‘Aye, gold,” Glaccus replied. 

Artus fingered the small piece of cloth that cov- 
ered it. 

“It is strangely formed,” he said, and as he 
looked at Glaccus, it dropped out of his hand into 
the sand. Glaccus groped madly for it. 

“Mind it not, Glaccus,” said Artus, “thou canst 
not find it in the sand. I will give thee gold in 
place of it when we reach Alexandria!” 

“Nay, tribune, for that one piece of gold is of 
more value to me than the wealth of the princeps. 
It may tell me some day who my father is!” 

He continued his search madly and eventually 
found it. He quickly placed it in his bosom. 

“Nay, Glaccus, cut the cloth that I may look upon 
it!” 

Glaccus obeyed, and as Artus glanced at the trin- 
ket he arose in haste. 

“Take it, take it from me! Fever comes again! 
I see things in my fancy !” 

“What dost thou see, master?” asked Hercules. 

“Gods, see! Visions, visions! I saw — half a 
ring! — I saw a forearm — and a hand holding a 
broken sword ! Once I gave such a ring to the love 
of my youth ! Euterpia ! Euterpia !” 

It appeared that the fever was returning again 
and Artus sank upon the sand. 

“Yet that is cut upon it,” said Hercules, “a hand 
holding a broken sword! Tis not thy fever, noble 
Artus!” 


306 


30 tbt <5oD0 Dectee 


Artus gazed strangely at the freedman. 

‘^Hercules speaks truly,” said Glaccus. 

‘Where didst thou get this thing, Glaccus?” said 
Artus hastily, a wild look now in his eyes. 

Then Glaccus told his story of how it had been 
placed about his neck by the people who had cared 
for him — told their parting words, “Lose it not, 
child, lose it not, for it may lead thee to thy people !” 
He further told that these people had said that the 
Tenth Legion had placed him with them for keep- 
ing. Glaccus also told that the family had been dis- 
possessed and he cast into the streets. 

Artus was too overcome to speak. 

“He is ill indeed,” said Hercules, “thou wouldst 
think the trinket held his very life!” 

“And so it does,” said Artus, “for Glaccus, I gave 
it to thy mother. I am — thy — father !” 

He fell to the sand and they carried him to the 
tent of Gallus. 

“Alas,” said Glaccus, “he is ill indeed ! He fancies 
he is my father!” 

Throughout the remainder of the night Artus 
raved. Glaccus stood at the foot of the rough 
couch. Hercules was fanning air — and fanning it 
madly, — -into the heaving chest of Artus, who soon 
sank into a deep sleep. 

“Yet dost thou know, Glaccus,” said Hercules, 
“that thy build, thy hair and thy very movements 
are at times, the counterpart of his! Were it not 
that thy eyes art blue, I would surely think thou art 
a son of his!” 

“And thou, Hercules, art a fool, — -and yet I like 
thee. That thou wert once a slave carries no weight 


30 tf)e <SoD0 Decree 307 


with me and, to the legion, thou art a hero, Her- 
cules !” 

“Nay, Artus is the hero! He cut the path that 
day and too, Gallus, commended thee, Glaccus ; I but 
carried the eagle.’^ 

“And by thine own thunder — good Tarann! thou 
didst make the eagle peck, good Hercules!” replied 
Glaccus. 

At dawn the army broke camp and moved slowly 
through the sand. They had tortured Syllaeus and 
threatened to blind his eyes should he not find water 
for them that day. Therefore he guided them to 
an oasis where a watering place was found. The 
precious water saved the lives of many. When the 
sun had risen that morn and Glaccus gazed at the 
face of Artus,' he discovered that the hair of the 
tribune had turned snow white over night! . 


CHAPTER LII 


After man and beast had slaked their thirst with 
the precious fluid, the remnants of the army of 
Callus continued on their way through the desert 
country toward the village of Negra, in the terri- 
tory of Obodas, and situated upon the sea. Many 
were ill and helped along by more fortunate com- 
rades. Artus was now being carried on a litter 
by some of his soldiers. If he remembered that 
incident at the camp he gave no sign of it. One 
night, however, found him tranquil. They were 
close to Negra, ‘Tlessed Negra!” Glaccus did not 
again refer to his trinket nor to the words of Artus, 
and both the former and Hercules concluded that 
the strange words of their commander had been 
caused by the fever. 

That night he accompanied Artus to the roughly 
constructed tent where Regus lay sufYering. 

“Alas, Glaccus !” said Artus, “I have lost all hope 
for Regus! He bore himself nobly, yet natures, such 
as his, thrive better in the halls of pleasure than 
on the fields of campaign. It grieves me, for I 
love Regus!” 

They entered the tent. None would have recog- 
nized in the sick man lying there the youth of 
golden promise, whose beautiful auburn hair had 
so often been encircled by the chaplets of the feast ; 
for this hair now lay in tangled and disordered 
308 


30 t!)e (®oD0 Decree 


309 


masses upon the cushion! His eyes were sunken 
deep in their sockets. Artus approached and took 
his hand. 

“Regus,” he said softly, ‘'dost thou recognize 
me?” 

Glaccus stood at the entrance and Lucius sat be- 
side the couch. The poet slowly raised his eyes 
until they met those of his friend. 

“Jupiter protect thee, for thou art Artus! Hast 
thou come to say farewell?” 

“No, Regus, for thou shalt live to grace my tri- 
clinium again with thy honeyed words. Hold to 
life, Regus, hold to life, for ere long we will be in 
Myus Hormas!” 

Regus shook his head. “The end is near for 
me!” he said. 

Artus was silent and turned his head aside, for 
he realized that Regus spoke the truth. Indeed, 
death came sooner than they expected, for sud- 
denly Regus sprang from the couch. He fell for- 
ward and was caught in the arms of Lucius and 
Artus, who tenderly placed him upon the couch. 
His face was adorned with a smile of radiance, 
of joy beyond earth! Thus he passed away, beau- 
tiful now in that spiritual touch of death as he had 
been when clad in the synthesis of pleasure! The 
lips of Artus quivered. Lucius broke down and 
wept like a child; Glaccus left the tent and sought 
Claudius, who was on duty. As the latter entered 
he beheld the weeping form of Lucius whose hand 
clasped the wrist of Regus, — Regus, who had been 
his bosom friend since they were children ! 

“O, Regus,” said Claudius, “hast thou gone?” 
He turned aside and covered his eyes. 


310 


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'‘Come,” said Artus, “let us erect a funeral pyre 
and thou, Lucius, shalt say the farewell words.” 

:i« 4: * * * * 

That night Artus, Glaccus and Hercules sat to- 
gether. 

“Hercules, what words did I utter that night, — 
after Malothas! It seems that in my mind, — else 
I dreamed, — Glaccus, here, did have some trinket 
that I lost many years gone by ! Say, did I dream ? 
— or — or did I see — the thing?” 

Glaccus sat there, pale and silent, as Hercules 
repeated, to the best of his memory, all that had 
been said that night before the last spell of sick- 
ness from which Artus had just recovered. 

“Is this so, is this so?” said Artus; “hast thou 
— hast thou the trinket there, Glaccus ?” 

As if in a dream Glaccus took the little piece of 
gold from about his waist, cutting the string with 
his sword to speed the action. He placed it in the 
trembling had of Artus. 

“Glaccus! Glaccus!” he screamed, “thou art my 
son!” 

Still Glaccus did not move nor utter a sound, but 
stared at Artus as though he did not comprehend 
the meaning of it all ! Then Artus arose. 

“Who, then, is Bassus? Hercules, say, — who is 
Bassus? Summon Regus to me, — O, Regus — has 
gone !” 

“Bassus is thy son,” said Hercules, “for so thou 
didst say in Rome!” 

“Aye, for Regus sent him to me! and Regus — 
is gone! O, my head swims!” 

The breast of Glaccus was now heaving, and 
Hercules, himself, leaned forward in excitement. 


30 tbt ©000 Decree 


311 


**Ah, I see it now! Some enemy has foisted 
Bassus upon me — and, too, Regus was a victim! 
Thanks to the gods, Bassus is no limb of mine! 
And thou — thou, Glaccus, — indeed, — thy eyes of 
blue do seal thee! Blind fool that I have been!” 
He started toward Glaccus. 

“Thou, Glaccus, art flesh of my flesh, for thy 
mother gave herself to me in my youth, and as a 
thief in the night I robbed her of the precious jewel 
that she saved for none but me. Thou art the 
fruit of my rape, — yet be lenient in thy judgment, 
Glaccus, and hear me ere thou dost sentence me to 
thy hatred.” 

When he heard these words Glaccus moved away 
from Artus and turned his back on him. 

So this was the goal, he thought, to which his 
trinket had led him! 

“Glaccus,” said Artus, “hear me.” He related 
the story, — the story of that event in his life which 
had changed him from a youth of impulse to a man 
of cold calculation and remorse. As he told his 
tale, he used the gentlest terms of affection and 
endearment in speaking of Euterpia, and even Her- 
cules was moved ! Indeed, once the freedman inter- 
rupted him, saying : 

“Thy action was manly and none can condemn 
thee!” 

The story was told. In the many months of 
their close association Artus had learned to love 
Glaccus even as he would have loved a son. Vicissi- 
tude breeds close companionship among men! Yet 
justice must be satisfied, and Artus realized that 
he must now hear curses of reproach from the lips 
of this, his rightful son! 


312 


as tlje <®oDs Decree 


''Nay, justice demands too much!” he reasoned, 
as he dropped his cloak from before his eyes and 
stood before Glaccus, his arms relaxed, his head 
bowed in shame, — standing as a prisoner awaiting 
sentence! Then Glaccus turned to him. Hercules 
clinched his hands in the tension of the moment. 
The youth gave one bound forward and enclosed 
Artus in his arms, as he said : 

"I care not. Thou — thou art my father, and I 
love thee.” 

Hercules clapped his great hands together and 
shouted : 

"Now, though I was born in Gaul, I vow I believe 
in the power of Jupiter and all thy Roman gods !” 


CHAPTER LIII 


Time passed tranquilly at the villa of Decius. 
More than two years had gone by since Artus 
had left Rome for Egypt. No recent news had 
been received from the army of invasion in Arabia. 
The legions were now supposed to be continuing 
a march of conquest, accumulating wealth for Au- 
gustus and his works. On numerous occasions 
Decius had expressed his worriment, for no word 
had been received since the army had set forth 
from Leuce-Come, where the winter had been spent. 

Aegea continued to live at the villa as companion 
to Decia. She had, however, gone regularly to her 
work in behalf of the sick poor in Rome. Decius 
had lent his financial support for her plans. 

The change that had taken place in Aegea had 
been remarkable. *‘We benefit by affection,’" and 
the healthy life at the villa, the peaceful and com- 
fortable surroundings, coupled with her enthusiasm 
in her work, had practically transformed her! At 
times, when Decius would entertain friends, Aegea 
and Decia would lend their presence to the tri- 
clinium. At the pleadings of the latter, Aegea paid 
more attention to dress, and Felicia, the hairdresser, 
who was a handmaid of Decia, had been responsible 
for much of the added attractiveness of the “gentle 
widow.” Save for the melancholy expression that 
313 


314 


Z^s tfie ©oDS Decree 


at times touched her countenance, one would have 
thought this woman to be among the happiest of 
Rome. In Decia, likewise, there had been a change, 
— a change that had caused Decius to broach the 
subject to Aegea a hundred times. From a light- 
hearted girl, she had, even over night it seemed, be- 
come a quiet, thoughtful woman. No longer did 
her handmaids join in her hearty laughter of yore; 
no longer her joyous shouts rang through the col- 
umned peristyle, carrying a message of happiness. 

‘‘Alas! good Aegea,” said Decius one day. “My 
conquered wealth at least has failed in this, ‘my 
lamb' is not happy!” 

And Aegea replied: 

“Good senator, thou dost satisfy her every want. 
No more can mortal do. The rest is for the gods — 
and, too, thou shouldst not forget she is no longer 
a child!” 

Decius was much in the company of Aegea, and 
though he spoke of a thousand different things, 
always uppermost would come the subject of Artus 
and the campaign. Then he would call for wine 
and drink and drink until Aegea would say : 

“Good senator! In the excitement of thy stories, 
thou dost forget that this is thy eighth goblet !” and 
gently she would take the vessel from his hand. 
Every man has his peculiar habit, and Decius had 
always been fond of the wine-cup. 

“Save thee,” he once said to Aegea, “Bacchus 
is now my only friend — since Artus went forth!” 

A thousand times a day the thoughts of Decia 
reverted to Glaccus. How handsome he looked in 
his armor! How tall and brave he was, and, too, 
how tenderly he had looked at her that morning 


as tfte 0000 Decree 


315 


he went away. More than once Aegea came upon 
her as she sat weeping beside the stream, at that 
spot now so sacred to her because Giaccus had 
once sat there beside her. Yonder, on the opposite 
bank, he had saved the birds. How ill, indeed, she 
had thought of him and O, how keenly she regret- 
ted her unkind words that night in the atrium of 
Artus! Then she would see again in her mind’s 
eye, his eyes flashing in anger at her father’s sug- 
gestion that he had abducted her, — and he, the 
youth who truly worshipped her ! Again she would 
recall, for the thousandth time each gentle word he 
said to her, — said to her even when he thought she 
was a slave ! She would smile through her tears as 
she again recalled his words : ‘T will win thy free- 
dom!” Then she would weep again, as she remem- 
bered that she had seen his arms about a beautiful 
woman ! One day Aegea sat reading on the portico. 
Two handmaids, who had not observed her, were 
conversing nearby. 

‘‘Didst thou note, Felicia,” said one, “the glances 
of love our master bestows upon Aegea? — and she, 
too, a plebian!” 

“Aye, I saw it a hundred times! But yesterday 
he stood near her, but she did not see him,— stood 
there, gazing softly at her! Truly I believe he 
loves her!” 

Aegea sprang to her feet and the handmaids 
screamed. 

“Away!’' she said sternly, “nor give thy minds 
nor tongues such silly evil thoughts and words, — 
else I will tell thy master!” 

Shamefaced and frightened, they fled. 

“O, gods, I pray that this is not true, else must 


316 


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I leave here/^ she murmured. The thought, how- 
ever, took root, for now she recalled a hundred 
words and actions of Decius ! She had indeed been 
blind all along, yet she would not have such a thing 
be true for all the wealth of Rome! Affection 
for him she had indeed, yet no such love or passion. 

The words he spoke to her that evening con- 
vinced her that an immediate decision was impera- 
tive. 

‘‘Tell me, Aegea,” said Decius, “what would I do 
wert thou not of my familiaf Thou knowest I 
have no taste for feasts and pleasures. My life is 
here, and only thy sweet words console me in my 
disappointments.” Then he sat silent, gazing at 
Decia yonder, who was staring straight ahead into 
vacancy. Then Aegea felt that she must needs post- 
pone telling him of this thing she had resolved upon. 
“On the morrow I will tell him; I cannot now,” 
she decided. And thus many “to-morrows” passed 1 
One day, however, she broached the matter to him, 
giving as excuse the pressure of her increasing 
work in Rome. 

“Now, by the gods, I cry out at this,” said Decius. 
“I will not have it so. My child unhappy, Artus 
gone, and now thou wouldst rob me of thy pres- 
ence here. Nay, I will double, quadruple my al- 
lowance for thy noble work, yet will not have thee 
go to such perpetual slavery for an ungrateful mul- 
titude of begging plebs.” 

“Yet, I too, am a plebian, good Decius!” she 
said. 

“Thou art plebian only in name. Thy soul is 
noble. I know, for yonder is the child of the 
noblest woman who ever drew breath. With such 


30 tbe (SoD0 Decree 


317 


experience dost thou think I cannot judge? Thou 
shalt not go, — at least — at least not yet a while, — 
I beg of thee. Stay with me until my child leaves 
me, — a short time hence I must take her — 
He suddenly ceased speaking. 

Then Aegea decided that she would say nothing 
more about the matter for a week, but that night 
wrung her hands in her perplexity. 

“What shall I do; what shall I do?” she asked 
herself for the hundredth time! 


CHAPTER LIV 


From Negra, the remnants of Callus’s legions 
proceeded to Myus Hormas, thence across the coun- 
try to Coptus; eventually they arrived at Alex- 
andria. When the legionaries caught the first 
glimpse of the city, a mighty shout arose on the 
air and many wept at this, the end of their long 
continued sufferings. One day, during the march 
from Myus Hormas, Artus and Callus were riding 
side by side, and the latter said: 

‘Truly, Artus, I understand thee not! Here we 
return with the remnants of our forces, and empty- 
handed. No ovation will greet us, but rather the 
censure of Augustus for our failure! Yet thou 
dost ride beside me throughout the entire days as 
though we were returning laden with spoils! It is 
no business of mine, yet I do not understand thy 
joyous countenance. I hate to see the walls of 
Alexandria !” 

Artus looked piercingly at him and a cynical smile 
crept to his mouth. 

“Ha! — I’ll tell thee. Callus, I gained through 
this campaign a treasure greater than the aerarium, 
— else would I feel down in the mouth as thou !” 

Callus looked at him in bewilderment and shook 
his head. 


318 


00 tht i^opg Decree ^ 

‘‘And lost thy mind to gain it?’' he murmured. 

Artus smiled.' “Nay, rather have I found it, 
Gallus !” 

During the long days of the march from Negra, 
Artus and Glaccus often rode side by side. One 
day Artus said to the youth : 

“I will rid myself of that carrion, Bassus, and 
will formally adopt thee, Glaccus. Thus, though 
we preserve the secret of our relationship for a 
while, thou wilt live in proper station as my son.” 

One evening Glaccus and Hercules sat conversing 
aboard a swift galley that was bearing them to 
Brundisium. Artus was ill in the cabin, for the 
fever had again attacked him. 

“Alas !” said Hercules, “thy father begins to feel 
the strain. It is a bad business!” 

Glaccus shook his head moodily. 

“Jupiter, grant that I have not gained a father 
but to lose him, O Hercules,” he said. 

“Didst thou tell him of the woman?” said the 
freedman. 

“Aye, and when he learned that I was proof 
against her charms, he took my wrist and said, 
‘lovers are madmen,’ and that I was ‘a Roman after 
his own fancy,’ and added that Claudius is now 
doubly his friend, — because she took him as a lover 
in my place!” 

Hercules laughed, and said: 

“To think she was a former wine-maid! Me- 
cinia, didst thou call her?” 

“Aye, that was her name — in the wine-shops! — 
until she changed it, when Fortune smiled upon 
her, and called herself — Fortunse! Dost thou be- 
lieve, Hercules, that she deserted Donatus to be in 


320 


as tije ©oDs Decree 


Egypt near me? Alas, small reward she got, poor 
woman, if it be the truth!” 

“Women do strange things, Glaccus. She seemed 
plentifully supplied with gold. I knew a woman 
once whom I loved — and she — ah! what matters it 
now !” 

“And truly Fortunae earned the gold, if that 
old Donatus, whom I once saw, was her lover,” 
said Glaccus, “and what dost thou think of Claudi- 
us’s connection with the matter? ’Twas through 
his innocent agency she went to Donatus, who took 
her from the insula of Claudius’s aged grandmoth- 
er! The centurion saw her at the gate the morn- 
ing she returned from the villa of Decius, and 
loved her forthwith ! At last he is rewarded ! Good 
Claudius! Dost thou think she will tire of him? 
May Fortune and Fortunse both continue to smile on 
honest Claudius!” 

“And though she smiles on him, I tell thee, 
Glaccus, that this Fortunae’s heart is with thee.” 

Glaccus remained silent. His thoughts had 
flown to the villa of Decius! 

One of the physicians approached them at that 
moment. 

“The tribune Artus raves,” he said, “methinks 
his mind has gone forever!” 

“Nay, good physician! Thy words pierce my 
heart. Is there no hope?” said Glaccus hoarsely. 

The physician did not reply, and the youth and 
Hercules sought the cabin where Artus lay. 

“I tell thee, Glaccus,” said the freedman, “I do 
not believe entirely in thy Roman gods, — not yet, 
— not yet!” 


CHAPTER LV 

The hand of the sun dial near Aricia was cast- 
ing its shadow on the ninth hour. The Via Appia 
was crowded with the usual number of vehicles of 
all descriptions, from the gilded chariots of equally 
gaudy youths to the small carts pushed along by 
hawkers of all kinds of merchandise. “The Queen 
of Roads,” paved with skilfully joined slabs, of- 
fered no obstructions to the easy rolling of the 
wheels. Numerous pedestrians going from town to 
town, or perchance the entire way to Rome, lined 
the mar gin es, or walk, each side of the roadway. 
A huge horseman was riding ahead of a light- 
covered rheda which was opened at the sides. At 
times he would gallop his horse ahead and shout: 

“Make way ! Make way for a wounded tribune !’* 

WHien this small cortege, consisting of the single 
rider and the rheda rolling after him, had traveled 
past Aricia, better speed was made. 

At times Hercules would rein his steed and peer 
into the rheda when it caught up with him, and an 
expression of deepest anxiety could then be ob- 
served on his bronzed and bearded face as he saw 
his former master lying there suffering, and he 
would say to the driver: 

“Lash thy steeds ! The sun moves fast !” 

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At the villa of Decius, the senator, together with 
Aegea and Decia, sat within the elevated summer- 
house at the entrance to his grounds. They were 
watching the many vehicles and pedestrians that 
moved along the great roadway. Decius broke 
the silence. 

“What a multitude of travel ! The works of Au- 
gustus draw to the city many who, I doubt not, 
dream that wealth may there be picked up in the 
streets !” 

“Aye,*’ replied Aegea, “Rome becomes more 
beautiful each day!” She cast her eyes in a south- 
easterly direction and suddenly said: 

“Look yonder! Here comes a rider in haste! 
See, he deftly guides a rheda that closely follows 
him!” 

From the distance they watched the efforts of 
Hercules to clear the roadway. At last he came 
closer to the short roadway that led to the grounds 
of Decius, and the latter exclaimed excitedly : 

“By Pollux! There was but one man in Rome 
as large as he!” 

He held fast to the marble railing a second 
longer, then without another word, swiftly descend- 
ed and fled speedily down the roadway. Hercules 
saw him and waved his hands as the senator ran 
swiftly as an athlete at the games. 

“What news, what news? Does Artus live?” 

“Aye, until now, noble senator. I cannot tell thee 
of the morrow, for he lies sick to death,” replied 
Hercules. 

“Where, where?” cried Decius, forgetting, in 
the excitement, the very existence of the rheda. 


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The vehicle, however, at this moment caught up 
with Hercules. 

'There yonder, stricken with Arabian fever, and 
other ills. His mind — is gone, — ^gone!” 

Without waiting to hear more, Decius, his throat 
now stopped from speech by the lump that had sud- 
denly arisen there, sprang toward the rheda, tearing 
the curtains aside. He reached his strong arms in- 
side, lifted the lean form of Artus, and enclosed it 
as though it were that of a child. He then sped 
quickly up the roadway where he met the puzzled 
Aegea and Decia, followed by the villicus, who had 
been quickly walking after him. They saw Decius 
running toward them, his breast heaving from exer- 
tion, and when he arrived close to them he shouted : 

“ Tis he, ’tis he!” 

Decia saw the hair that had turned snow-white 
over night, the pale sunken cheeks, the feverish eyes, 
burning with no look of intelligence, and too, she 
saw that he had returned alone I Then she clapped 
one hand to her side and covered her mouth with 
the other to smother a shriek. Not so Aegea! The 
instincts of the nurse came uppermost, and almost 
mechanically she said : 

"Senator, order snow and water. Place him on 
this bench.” 

Decius despatched the villicus on the errand, and 
immediately slaves came bringing, ice, snow, water 
and cloths. 

"Aegea, is it serious, dost thou think? He does 
not speak !” 

Helpless and speechless, Decia leaned against the 
pedestal of a statue nearby. Quickly Aegea took 


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some of the snow water and forced it into the mouth 
of Artus. Then, assisted by handmaids of Decia, 
she applied cool cloths to his forehead and body. 
Suddenly Artus sprang from the marble, throwing 
to the ground those who stood before him and push- 
ing and thrusting to right and left as though he held 
a shield and sword, he shouted : 

“First cohort; forward! sound the tubae! Move, 
move 1 Would ye take root upon the desert ? Come, 
for Rome!” and as though leading the legionaries, 
he rushed through the ranks of a few slaves who 
had gathered nearby in a puzzled multitude, and 
struck some of them to the ground. Decius sprang 
after him, and folding Artus in his strong arms, 
shouted : 

“Artus, my Artus, dost thou not know me? De- 
cius, thy friend, here in Rome!” 

The limbs of Artus relaxed and gazing strangely 
at Decius, he said : 

“Where is thy passport? — Guard this man!” 

Gently they placed him on the marble bench again, 
as, overcome with weakness, a cold sweat had sud- 
denly succeeded the fever. Then they carried him 
into the summer triclinium, aye, even there where 
they had been wont to sit in the evening, discussing 
their many past experiences together in the wars ! 

All had forgotten Hercules, — all save Decia ! Fa- 
tigued by his exertions during the long ride to- 
wards Rome and having paid and dismissed the 
driver of the rheda, the Gaul lay down on the grass 
beside the roadway wiping the perspiration from his 
forehead and his exposed chest. 

He had closed his eyes to rest them for a few 
minutes, — eyes tired by the sun of many months 


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in Arabia! As he opened them again he saw a 
pale and beautiful maiden standing before him, her 
hands held meekly together as though in supplica- 
tion to the gods! Hercules rubbed his eyes when 
he saw Decia, and then sat upright. 

‘‘Shades of Wodan ! Who art thou ?” he asked. 

“Good soldier, canst thou tell me, did — did the 
tribune Artus come to Rome alone?” she said 
meekly. 

“Aye, save for me, and too, some others — and 
Glaccus,” he replied. 

Decia held herself firmly together, as it were, 
though tears had come into her eyes. Quickly tak- 
ing a thick gold bracelet from her arm, she said : 

“My thanks to thee, brave soldier. This for 
thy silence!” 

She gently forced it into his great hairy hand, 
and ran quickly from him, even before he could re- 
cover from his surprise. 

He then arose and walking slowly along the 
pathway, soon arrived at the portico. Decius at 
that moment had come from the triclinium. Spying 
Hercules, he said : 

“Hercules, I forget thee in my joy and sorrow 
at having Artus with me again! Thou shalt rest 
here this night and tell me of this campaign.” 

He then turned and entered the atrium, where he 
found Aegea, busily writing on some tablets. 

“Good senator, send these by swift tabellarii. We 
need the best physicians in Rome.” 

The beginning of the second vigil had already 
set in when Hercules and Decius sat conversing in 
the moonlight. The former had been telling many 


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details of the campaign, but he withheld the news 
of the discovery of the parentage of Glaccus. The 
honest freedman reasoned that it was not meet that 
he should be the one to tell it. 

‘‘And dost thou say,” continued Decius, “that 
but seven men were killed in battle ?” 

“Aye, ’tis true, yet none but the strongest could 
endure the heat and thirst — and fevers! The sun 
poured down upon our armor until one felt as though 
a furnace were hanging to one’s back. Like many 
others, I cast mine into the sands.” 

“Where didst thou get that gold chain, Hercules ?” 

“From Gallus himself, — after Asca. I grasped the 
eagle that day, ten thousand of our enemies fell. 
Artus clasped my wrist in friendship, — my hand! 
I, a former slave of his, now call him friend! I 
tell thee, noble Decius, that clasp of hand I value 
more than I would a hundred gold chains from 
Gallus — and I still call Artus, Lord, though the rec- 
ords of Rome show that I have been manumitted!” 

Hercules continued, telling details of the cam- 
paign : 

“The youth Glaccus gained his first wound that 
day. He is a soldier after mine own heart and well 
deserved his promotion. He holds the rank of optio 
now !” 

Suddenly they heard the sounds of clanking ac- 
coutrements along the pathway leading to the por- 
tico. The rays of the moon illumined the countenance 
of Glaccus, and Hercules arose, saying : 

“Here comes a soldier who will some day be a 
tribune!” 

Decius stretched forth his hand to the youth. 
“Glaccus, welcome in the name of Jupiter! I am 


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glad to see thee. Hercules told me of thy courage 
and fidelity to Artus. Thus again I am indebted to 
thee for services rendered.” 

Glaccus grasped the wrist of Decius and said : 

‘T thank thee, noble Decius. Tell me quickly, 
how fares my — my commander?” 

^‘He sleeps, yet I will take thee to him that thou 
mayest judge for thyself. Gods grant health and 
life to Artus, then mayhap, happiness will once more 
enfold this luxurious villa !” 

As they entered the cuhiculum to which Artus 
had been removed they did not notice Decia peering 
from behind a curtain. She ran quickly to Aegea 
and said : 

‘‘Glaccus is here !” 

“Is this so, Decia? Now I feel as though Fortune 
begins to smile on us again.” 

Aegea hastily proceeded to the apartment where 
Artus lay. She saw Glaccus standing at the en- 
trance, and spying her, he folded her in his arms. 
They entered the cubiculum of Artus, who was 
again raving: 

“I have gained more wealth, Gallus, than Caesar 
in Garul ! Damn thy Arabian gold, — I have gained 
a son ! — Thou canst not take him from me, Gallus ! 
Thou canst not! Help! help!” 

Aegea knelt beside the couch. 


CHAPTER LVI 


The weeks passed quietly at the villa of Decius. 
The physicians had been successful, though the con- 
valescence of Artus was slow. One afternoon Artus 
and Glaccus were conversing in the garden. 

'T understand thee not, — speak further,” said the 
former. 

‘'She misjudges me, father. She thinks I bear a 
sore in my heart because of her words that night 
in thy atrium. In this Decia wrongs me, yet until 
this idea is removed from her gentle mind, — and 
too clumsy am I to do it ! — until then, I must needs 
be an infrequent visitor here!” 

“And thou hast kept our secret, my son? That 
is well. Vengeance must be satisfied first. As to 
Decia, — now truly I am disappointed in thee. Thou 
didst have more courage at Asca I” 

Then he laughed. 

“Decius! Decius!” called Artus, as the senator 
came down the path holding the hand of Decia. The 
latter blushed at seeing Glaccus. 

“Decius,” said Artus, “is it not meet that every- 
thing be pleasant here ? Glaccus whom thou know- 
est I will adopt, hesitates to visit here, because my 
other child, — aye, thou Decia! — dost think some 
thing of him and he, my son to b^, — a fool of double 
quantity! — thinks the same of her! Can we not 
settle matters now?” 


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His eyes twinkled as he continued, and Decius 
laughed. 

“Glaccus,” continued Artus, “I order thee to 
walk alone with Decia. Go yonder to the stream 
and there fight thy battle, — and win if thou canst. 
Dost thou not agree with me, Decius, when I say 
we must have no friction in our families?” 

‘‘Now, Artus,” replied Decius, “thou hast spoken 
good words. My lamb rules me whilst thou rulest 
thy adopted son. Canst perceive the dififerenc? Go, 
children, and if ye come back not in friendship, we 
will banish ye.” 

Silently Glaccus and Decia walked toward the 
stream. Love brooks no delay ! . Unconsciously they 
sought that hallowed spot near the bridge where he 
had crossed to her that morning more than two 
years gone by! The hours passed, and when they 
returned to the portico, Artus and Decius smiled 
and the latter winked. 

“Love and a cough cannot be hidden!” said De- 
cius, and Artus added: 

“Let’s buy some wolf-fat!” 

That evening Decia and Glaccus sat together on 
a white marble bench in the elevated summer house 
where they had first spied Hercules that day on 
which he had brought Artus to the villa. 

These lovers now faced life with every hope for 
joys to be. Decius was satisfied with the announce- 
ment that Artus would formally adopt Glaccus as 
his son. Indeed, the event of the adoption but 
awaited the full recovery of the tribune, when at 
the Forum, the name of Glaccus would be enrolled 
among those of the Equestrian rank and he would 
then assume the name of the adoptive father. None 


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knew that Glaccus was of the same flesh and blood 
as Artus, for the latter, having in mind the discov- 
ery of the perpetrators of the crime of foisting 
Bassus upon him, had bound Glaccus and faithful 
Hercules to secrecy. Yet it sufficed Decius that this 
youth should woo his lamb, for would he not be 
the son of Artus? Was not Glaccus a youth of 
courage and character? Had he not ‘‘snatched the 
lamb from the wolf?” 

During this long period Aegea had been untiring 
in her attendance upon Artus. One evening they 
sat together on the portico. The night was warm 
and balmy and the pale moon shone through light 
clouds overhead. Aegea spoke. 

“Alas, I know that thou dost grieve in disap- 
pointment at the failure of the campaign, — yet thou 
art too experienced a soldier not to realize the un- 
certainty of war !” 

“Nay, good Aegea, thou dost mistake the thought, 
for I must tell thee this. I gained a wondrous vic- 
tory in that campaign. My words will startle thee, 
for even Decius has not heard them. I found in 
Arabia Felix, — aye, Arabia the Fruitful, Arabia the 
Happy, for me! — I found a jewel! a precious, pre- 
cious jewel! I found my son, — limb of this own 
body ! Aye, ’tis true and I can prove it !” 

Aegea arose. 

“Nay, be still; ’tis not the fever that speaks! 
Listen.” 

He told her the story of that retreat from Mariba, 
the discovery of the identity of Glaccus, but no de- 
tails. 

“Can this thing be true? Glaccus, Glaccus, sayest 


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thou ? Then why thy sighs, O, thou most fortunate 
of men!” 

‘‘ ’Tis this,” he said sadly, “that she who gave 
that son to me is not here to share the joy!” 

“So runs life! Yet what proof hast thou that 
he is thy son ? Who, then, is Bassus ?” 

“Who indeed ! — yet — hear me. Glaccus holds 
half a ring I gave to his mother, — gave her ere he 
was born — ere I was impressed in the legions ! This 
ring hath no duplicate in all Rome and Glaccus holds 
half of it!” 

Aegea arose and stood tremblingly before him. 

“Ring? Sayest thou a ring?” Then she sat upon 
the bench again, pushing back her hair from her 
forehead and drawing the back of her hand across 
her eyes, as if to clear her thoughts, — and whispered 
hoarsely : 

“Describe this ring to me.” She was forcing the 
words through her lips. 

“It bore a seal — a hand holding a broken sword ! 
’Twas given to my — • — ” 

Aegea had fallen forward, and buried her eyes 
in her hands, but Artus did not realize that she had 
been overcome with emotion. When she recovered 
herself, however, she knew not what to do. She 
feared to tell him that she was the “Euterpia of the 
past” — that she had tied half of this ring about the 
neck of the babe she had been compelled to desert 
at the camp of the Tenth Legion. She feared the 
shock would be too much for Artus, yet it took all 
the strength and courage she could summon to pre- 
vent her from shrieking out her joy. She wrung 
her hands hysterically, arose and seated herself sev- 
eral times. 


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‘‘Aegea, good Aegea, I have overtaxed thee with 
my business !’' said Artus, “Say thou art not grieved 
that he thou lovest is a son of this flesh — even though 
thou dost not know his mother?” 

“Know his mother?” she repeated after him. 
“Look, look upon me! — backward cast thy mind! Is 
there naught about me to remind thee of Euterpia, 
my Calchus?” 

At hearing these words, Artus arose to his feet, 
tottering : 

“But two people in this life knew me by that name, 
— the other was the aged father of Euterpia and 
he is dead !” he whispered. “Ah, — I — am — dazed !” 

He sank upon the bench again, and Aegea came 
and knelt before him, put her arms about him and 
lifted her face to the moonlight. 

“O, Calchus, Calchus, dost thou not know thy 
Euterpia ?” 

With a mad cry, as though of the bursting of all 
the reservoirs of all the joys of life, Artus clasped 
her to his breast. A silence of many minutes ensued, 
interrupted only by the sobbings of these reunited 
lovers from the past. Then Aegea took from her 
bosom the other half of the ring! 

“This to prove that I am genuine !” she said. 

“Proof! O, the veil is torn aside, — the veil that 
blinded me! Again I see the Euterpia I wronged! 
Canst thou forgive me for the years of which I 
robbed thee ?” 

For answer she lay her head upon his breast, 
sobbing. 

Decius came upon the scene. His face paled as he 
saw them in fond embrace, but he retired without 


ag tfte (g^opg Decree ^ 

a word. None knew of his thoughts or disappoint- 
ment. 

“Artus wins where I have lost/^ he murmured. 

Entirely ignorant of the scene being enacted on 
the portico, Glaccus said to Decia as he held her 
hand pressed to his breast : 

“And, Decia, dost thou love me?” asking the 
question for the hundredth time, “Dost thou love 
me ? Canst thou take me to thy bosom through this 
life — and forever — and — forever — through all aeons 
of time?” 

Decia entwined her fingers in his, and said softly : 

“For thou art Glaccus, Glaccus saved from the 
sand of the arena by my father. Thou lovest me, 
and sought to woo me when thou didst think I was 
a slave and thou a free man! Is it not meet that 
I should love thee, Glaccus — I who loved thee 
through all the weary months and months when I 
did cry myself to sleep each night, thinking of thee 
and that I had lost thee? O, Glaccus, are not the 
gods good?” 

A lump arose in the throat of Glaccus. How 
good life now seemed ! How he craved the coming 
of that day when he could say to her: 

“I am the son of Artus, and of his own flesh!” 

Yet how happy it made him to realize that she 
loved him for whatsoever he might be, knight or 
plebian ! 

Her fingers sought his eyes to caress them, and 
she felt a single tear forced from his lids by her 
gentle touch. Yet Glaccus was no man of tears ! In 
silence these two lovers arose from their marble seat, 


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to them cushioned with down of heaven! Perfume 
Sprinkled by Eros from the amphorcs of Venus was 
sprayed about them and the odours of love clung to 
them, — enveloped the very atmosphere through 
which they moved! 

And thus they arrived at the portico where Artus 
arose to greet them as he saw them coming. 

“Glaccus,” he said to the youth, *‘go to her.*^ His 
voice trembled and he pointed toward Aegea, who 
was sitting there in silence. 

‘‘And thou, my Decia,” he continued hoarsely, 
“shalt walk with me for I have a wondrous tale to 
tell, — if my voice fails me not.” As Decia rested 
her hand on his arm she noted that it was tremb- 
ling, and said to him : 

“My dear, dear father I” 

Then she placed her other hand on his arm as 
though to enclose him in her affection! Thus they 
walked down the path through which she had just 
come with Glaccus. 

Glaccus went to Aegea. His body was bathed, 
as it were, in the tepidarium of love, happiness and 
hope! And, too, he loved this woman, to whose 
devoted nursing he owed so much, — mayhap life it- 
self ! 

How else then, that at this moment he should love 
her more than any other woman in life, save Decia, 
— and Decia he did not love, — ^but worshipped. He 
could see naught but the faintly outlined form of 
Aegea hidden in the shadows, as she held her hand 
to her heart. 

“My foster-mother!” he said, “father sends me to 
thee, — yet I would have come myself for I must 
thank thee — thank thee again and again, — and a 


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thousand times again — for all I owe thee. How can I 
repay a decimal part of my great debt to thee?” 

He noted now her silence, and reasoned that per- 
chance Aegea had a recurrence of one of the per- 
iods of sadness such as he had observed during his 
convalescence in “the old days at the rustica” And 
so he thought, she suffered now. Yet he would com- 
fort her! Therefore he knelt before her, even as a 
child would have done, clasped her in his strong 
arms, and said: 

“Mother I” 

And Aegea, striving to speak, was only able to 
whisper through her tears : 

“My son, my own son!” 

“Aye, thy son forever and ever ! I could not love 
thee more hadst thou borne me!” 

Then Aegea, her tension overwrought at his 
words, gave vent to a shriek which brought some 
relief to her, and cried: 

“Flesh of my flesh, thou art my child ! — Fruit of 
thy father’s love for me, — Artus is thy true sire, — 
and I did bear thee! I am thy mother!” 

Then she fell forward on his shoulders moaning 
from joy and kissed him a dozen, dozen times, — < 
kissed his hair, his eyes, his lips, — and pressed him 
close to her heart for the hundredth time. 

The breast of Glaccus was heaving and he could 
only say : 

“My mother! my own mother! O, how could it 
have been otherwise! Gods! what have I done to 
gain this added joy?” 

Then he arose and called “Decia! Decia! my 
mother! my mother!” 

Decius in his cuhiculum, was aroused by the 


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shriek of Aegea. Artus had returned with Decia, — 
the latter’s eyes tear-stained, for she had heard the 
story of this twofold joy! 

When Decius came from his cubiculum and saw 
these two united couples, heart pressed to heart, he 
murmured, even as though he endeavored to con- 
vince himself : 

''Is it not meet that I, too, should praise the gods 
who thus bless my roof ? Doth not happiness beget 
happiness? Who knows but that some share of it 
may come to me — even though I must share thee, 
'my lamb’ — and lose thee, O, Aegea I” 

Then he turned and softly retired to his cubiculum 
again, where he seated himself in solitude upon his 
bed, — and there he remained until they sought him, 
charging him with weapons of love and gratitude, 
the women clinging to him and calling him father, 
and saviour of all their joys, and a hundred other 
endearing terms! The two men, with their arms 
about his shoulders, told him all; and then some 
share of their happiness indeed came to Decius ; and 
Artus, the cynic, had melted, had become as other 
men ! The cold smile of cynicism had departed ! An 
expression signifying manhood’s belief that life was 
more than a journey of cold sorrow, now replaced 
that of questioning disbelief in the very wisdom of 
human existence! And, too, joy of youth flashed 
from his eyes, — stood forth hallowed by his snow- 
white locks, — the price the gods demanded for so 
much happiness! 

And Decius, great, strong, honest Decius, — De- 
cius, a commander on the field of war, yet now the 
shepherd of a fold, — a fold wherein his flock had 
once consisted of a single 'lamb,’ — his Decia, — De- 


30 tfte (So 00 Decree 


337 


cius who the legionaries called the “man of metal,” 
— walked down that night to the far end of his 
grounds, — to the tomb of his wife Aurelia, gone 
from him these many years! There he leaned his 
massive frame against the white stones and said: 

“Thou, my absent Aurelia ! — thou alone who gave 
me all my happiness, forgive me, if in my loneliness 
for thee, I sought another to comfort me!” 

His eyes sought the memorium carved in the mar- 
ble: 

VALE, AURELIA. 

“Aye, 'Vale’ indeed, until I join thee there!” he 
said, as he covered his face with his mantle ; and it 
seemed to him that she came and caressed him and 
whispered : 

“I am with thee, my Decius; tarry long, until I 
come for thee.^’ 


CHAPTER LVII 


Late in the afternoon of the second day following, 
Artus sat in the atrium of his house in the Janicu- 
lum. Tightly clasped in his hand he held a small 
scroll and a sealed packet. 

Again and again he examined the scroll and con- 
tents of the packet. The latter was stamped with 
a seal, — a hand holding a broken sword upraised ! 

“Truth conquers all things,” he said, “and reveals 
all.” 

Then he arose and walked up and down the atri- 
um. Soon the slaves lighted the lamps, for night 
had come. Hercules entered. 

“Hail, noble patron ! Is thy f reedman the first of 
thy guests?” said the Gaul. 

“Freedman, dost thou still call thyself, Hercules? 
Nay, 'f reedman’ must needs give way to friend. Yet 
hear, I promise thee that henceforth thou wilt have 
even greater belief in the power of our Roman gods ! 
Artus now lives but in the memory of a name. 
Henceforth salute me as Publicus. Such was my 
sire’s name.” 

“Publicus ! Of the family that even now Romans 
mention the name with homage, because its members 
served the state through generations past ?” said the 
freedman in astonishment. 

“Aye, even so, good Hercules.” 

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“Then I vow a shrine to thy great Jupiter.” 

At that moment, Decius and Glaccus entered. 
Hercules gave a mighty shout. 

“Hail, noble senator, and thou, too, Glaccus! 
Alas, that Artus should not be among us !” 

With a frown, Decius said: 

“What ails the freedman ? Has he lost his senses ?” 

“Aye, senator, I have. Artus is not here, but 
rather one of the tribe of the Publicii I” 

“What words are these ?” said Decius. Artus was 
now standing before him silent. Quietly he handed 
the scroll and packet to Decius who perused them 
hastily. The senator then arose in wonderment. 

“Gods! Artus! thou whom I picked that day at 
Philippi! Thou, Cains Publicus, of patrician blood! 
Now, I vow by Jupiter! I will match my judgment 
against the world!” 

He strode forward and clasped the hand of Artus 
in both his own, and Artus said : 

“Yet forever I remain to thee but plain Artus, — 
until — until we part forever, my Decius.” 

The latter turned to Glaccus, who had been a 
silent witness of the scene. 

“Thou hast a new father, Glaccus,” he said, “one 
great in Roman blood, as in deeds!” 

Father and son embraced, and at that moment 
Lucius entered. He shared in their joy. 

“Yet in the excitement, friends,” said Artus, “ye 
have forgotten the instrument through whom the 
gods sent me this added gift. Here, Lucius, read 
aloud !’' 

The philosopher took the small scroll, the contents 
of which were as follows : 

“To Artus, — Greetings from Claudius : 


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“From Alexandria, I send this letter and packet 
by my friend Appius, of my legion. As thou know- 
est, I am no master of words, as our poor departed 
Regus — may his shade rest in peace, I sorely miss 
him, — and doubt not that thou and Lucius, too, like- 
wise often think of him. I am remaining here in 
Egypt where Gallus, through thy commendation, has 
given me an excellent post. He has well rewarded 
my efforts to serve Rome and, too, I must confess 
to thee, another strong attraction keeps me here. 
Fortunae ! For, thanks to Eros, I have won her love ! 
More than that, because she truly loves me, and me 
alone, she has severed her mysterious source of 
wealth — this source I enclose to thee, for she bled 
the Senator Donatus of wealth, using as a weapon 
this which I enclose to thee. Because she has learned 
to love me — because of these things, — she gave the 
enclosures to me to send to thee. More than this, 
I know not, nor did I press her for further informa- 
tion. 

“May these things I send thee, the seals of which 
should be unbroken, bring thee added fortune and 
happiness. Send thy reply and the golden powder 
to the barracks at Alexandria. May Fortune make 
thee as happy as thy friend, Claudius.’' 

* * * * 5 |« 

At the beginning of the first vigil, these friends 
were still seated in close consultation. They awaited 
the arrival of an expected guest. 

Eventually the ostianiis announced Bassus, who 
came bounding into the peristyle, shouting : 

“Welcome! welcome, my father, to thy house 
again !” 

“Welcome,” said Artus, dryly, “a hundred thous- 


90 tfje ©OD0 Decree 


341 


and times, welcome.” Then he held his lips tightly 
together. He clapped his hands and ordered a slave 
to place the folding doors in position and the screens 
of talc, and that he was not to be disturbed. 

Surprise gave place to fear as Bassus noted the 
preparations and thought of the strange reception 
he had received, nor did he fail to observe that the 
eyes of Hercules were following him. 

The small peristyle was soon enclosed. To Bassus 
the very air seemed permeated with horror! 

'‘Father,” he said, “what means thy coldness, — 
and this enclosure?” 

“Silence, Bassus! thou art on trial for thy life!” 

“Father,” said Bassus, as he paled, “am I not thy 
son, thy very loving son ?” 

“Aye,” replied Artus, “as the wolf loves the lamb ! 
Silence ! 

“Bassus,” he said, in the firm voice that was 
formerly heard when he rendered his decisions as 
praetor, “Bassus, confess!” 

Only then did the youth realize the meaning of 
the words. 

He sank to his knees before Artus and moaned : 

“He made me do it, he made me do it.” 

“Speak!” said Artus. 

All present now moved forward. Tremblingly 
Bassus told the tale, naming Donatus and Mecinia, 
whose villainy he did not strive to hide, hoping to 
mitigate the terrible sentence that he realized would 
be imposed on him. 

It took their united efforts to quiet Decius, whose 
rage knew no bounds. He threatened forthwith to 
seek Donatus for the purpose of slaying him. Artus 
spoke : 


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“As judges,” he said, “it is but meet that ye in- 
dividually express the punishments ye think compati- 
ble with the crime. Yc'know the facts. Donatus 
ruined my family, robbed us of all our wealth and 
our good name, through lies and treachery. So 
these enclosures from Claudius prove. As Bassus 
has said, no man’s business in Rome is safe from the 
spies of this beast, Donatus. Now as to the pun- 
ishment, — thou, Hercules^ shalt speak first.” 

The Gaul, who had hated Bassus from the mo- 
ment he had seen him that day in the atrium of 
Artus, said : 

“Death to the dogs !” 

Bassus would have shrieked had he not pressed 
his hand to his mouth. 

“Now, Decius, what sayest thou?” 

“Death, yet through the courts of justice. The 
laws of Rome will give just sentence in this, for 
thou knowest that they decree death even as did 
Hercules here.” 

Bassus was now too terror stricken to moan. 

“Now, Lucius,” continued Artus, “what is thy 
philosophy ?” 

“My philosophy tells me that life with the pangs 
of remorse gives the greatest punishments that man 
can endure. I say that the villains should be placed 
in solitary confinement in the Tullianum — ^and for- 
ever, — and that such recommendation should be 
made to the courts of justice.” 

Bassus fell flat on the floor, and shook as though 
he had the ague. 

“What sayest thou, Glaccus ?” said Artus. 

“Hear me patiently, for my words will sound 
strange. My mind tells me that the innocent should 


90 tbe (fi5oD0 25ectee 


343 


not suffer for the guilty. But yesterday I was told 
that Bassus here had been enriched by another child ! 
His wife now lies upon the sick bed, awaiting the 
return of the father of her two children — innocent 
children, whom we seek to sentence to a life of 
shame, through the sins of the father. I advise 
vengeance on Donatus at once, — yet, — the postpone- 
ment of the punishment of Bassus! Vengeance, 
though it may be slow, must still be stern; who 
knows but that Bassus here is perchance another 
victim of the base senator’s villainy!” 

Artus stared at Glaccus when he heard these 
words, and then he said : 

“Bassus, the father of another child !” 

“Glaccus,” he continued, “I do agree with thee 
as to the immediate punishment of Donatus, yet as 
to Bassus here, procrastination thou knowest, is the 
thief of justice.” 

All were now silent. Glaccus spoke again : 

“Forget not the innocent children whom thou 
wouldst make fatherless ! I once was fatherless. I 
cannot cast my vote to make the innocent suffer.” 

“What sayest thou, Decius?” said Artus. 

“The words of Glaccus are noble,” said Decius, 
“yet thou, Artus, shouldst advise us of thine own 
thoughts. I will take vengeance on Donatus. Decia 
is my child and I will avenge her !” 

Bassus was now lying terror-stricken upon the 
floor. 

“Glaccus is right,” said Artus, “yet, Decius, I, 
too, have my grievance against Donatus and I must 
therefore share in thy vengeance. For the sake of 
the child new-born, — and the other one, — it seemeth 
as though the gods stay our hands — and, too, for 


344 


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the sake of the gentle wife, equally innocent as the 
babes, it is perhaps meet that Bassus should be 
spared” He thought deeply for a few minutes and 
then said : 

“Bassus, hast thou seen this toy before?” 

He reached his hand into the folds of his tunic 
and took therefrom the jewelled dagger that had 
belonged to Decia. 

“Aye,” moaned Bassus, “Galbus took it from the 
lady Decia, and gave it to me to keep for him. 
I lost it, — one night that I visited here.” 

Artus sprang to his feet; his face had suddenly 
become pale. 

“What! wretched man!” he said. 

He then seated himself and covered his eyes with 
his arm. 

“O, Eurycele,” he moaned, “thou art vindicated!” 

For a long time he sat thus and none disturbed 
him. After darkness comes light. He spoke, but 
his voice had become harsh again. 

“Bassus,” he said, “this is thy only chance for 
life.” 

He then unfolded his plan. Even Decius was now 
convinced that justice would be done. 

Ere long Bassus and Hercules went out into the 
night together. The latter was disguised as an 
antiamhulo, or waymaker, and carried a flaming 
torch. They were followed by a lectka, borne by 
four men in the dark red livery of the lecticarii. 
These four were Artus, Decius, Glaccus and Lucius. 
Their faces were blackened to aid in the disguise. 
All had been sworn to secrecy forever. Bassus led 
them and eventually the litter arrived at the house 


30 tfte (SoD0 Decree 


345 


of Donatus in the Palatine. Bassus plied the knock- 
er on the door and the ostiensis, who opened, recog- 
nized Bassus as a frequent visitor. 

“Summon thy master,” said Bassus, “tell him to 
arise and come to me at once, for a fortune weighs 
upon my words. Haste!” 

The ostiensis called a slave who immediately hur- 
ried away to carry out the orders of Bassus. Her- 
cules stood in the shadow of the door. He held a 
naked dagger and Bassus had been warned that it 
would be used in case of treachery. 

Donatus came to the door. 

“Why didst thou not come within, verhexf* he 
said, “to thus drag me from my bed at this time of 
night I” 

“Peace, Donatus, wouldst thou lose a fortune for 
thy temper? Come, and come quickly to yonder 
street; there the man awaits me who will tell thee 
such a tale that if it proves true, as I believe, will 
make thee richer than the Augustus! Come, ere 
he seeks another!” 

“And what fool words are these?” said Donatus. 
He looked closely at the face of Bassus, and then 
said : 

“Gods ! the blaze in thy eyes bespeaks a matter of 
great importance! Fll go with thee!” 

“I tell thee, Donatus, that this man has the key 
to heaven for us! Haste!” 

Donatus required no further coaxing. With his 
usual caution, however, he said : 

“Give me some clue, Bassus.” 

“Clue ! Bah ! then Pll go forthwith to my 'father,' 
Artus, who loves gold as much as thou dost. I am 


346 


90 tht <®oti0 Decree 


faithful to thee and give thee the first chance to 
gain this treasure. Please thyself, — I care not. Who- 
soever gains it, I am to get my share !” 

Donatus hastily followed Bassus to the corner of 
the vicus, where he saw a litter in the shadow of a 
house. When Donatus reached it, he suddenly felt 
a weight pressed on his mouth into which a gag 
was forced. Strong arms enfolded him. He was 
next bound with ropes and thrown heavily into the 
lectica. 

The bearers immediately lifted it to their shoul- 
ders, and preceded by Hercules, continued on their 
way. 

They passed the nocturnal triumviri on their 
rounds, who, however, suspected nothing. Who 
could have guessed that the powerful senator Dona- 
tus lay bound and gagged behind the drawn curtains 
of the litter, preceded by Hercules? 

Artus said to Bassus : 

“For thy silence, we will spare thee, — yet thy very 
life and those of thy wife and children depend upon 
thy silence. It is a Roman’s way of punishing 
thee !” 

“Thanks, noble, thanks, for thy mercy. I vow 
by all the gods a new life will start for me!” 

The litter proceeded on its way in silence save 
for the loud cry of Hercules, the unnecessary cry, 
“Make way, make way!” — for the streets were al- 
most deserted ! The night was dark, and naught in- 
terrupted the passage of the litter bearing its load. 
Soon it arrived at the summit of the Tarpeian 
Rock on the Capitolinus. They lifted Donatus from 
within. Artus spoke : 


as tije ©oils Decree 


347 


“Thou fiend! — go woo the maiden Tarpeia, the 
betrayer; the shade of Eurycele demands it!” 

Donatus would have shrieked had he not been 
gagged. Artus gave a signal. 

“Heave!” 

A dull sound re-echoed from the depths. No 
words were spoken, yet the clasp of wrists, such as 
Romans gave when a deed was well done, marked 
their several partings. 

It was Roman vengeance ! 


EPILOGUE 


Late in the summer of the year 9 A. D., a rheda 
was rolling along the Via Flaminia, escorted by a 
turma, or squadron, of Roman cavalry. The cur- 
tains of the vehicle had been drawn aside and within 
could be seen a very aged man. The cortege moved 
as speedily as the condition of the roadway and the 
volume of traffic permitted, and when it arrived at 
the various towns on the way, its occupant was re- 
ceived with high honors by the aediles murdcipales 
and other officials who had learned of the approach 
of Marcus Decius, one of the few surviving veterans 
of the army that had fought under Julius Caesar! 
This day, the aged man summoned the commanding 
decnrio and said to him : 

“Canst thou not arrange to stop this continual 
ceremony? My journey is no triumph! Speed, 
speed, is my desire !” 

The decurio replied: 

“Noble senator, Tenown is denied the living,’ yet 
Romans are showing gratitude for thy many honored 
years of service. By travelling more at night time, 
however, we can pass the gates of many towns 
without a halt.” 

Decius nodded his head affirmatively, and said : 

“Arrange it so.” 

The ceremonies, however, were repeated many 

348 


asi tlje <®oD$ Decree 


349 


times during the long journey of the Flaminian Way, 
but eventually, the cortege arrived at Etera on the 
Rhine River, where Decius alighted in a manner 
that almost belied the fourscore and eight years he 
carried ! 

'‘At last, Hercules, at last!” he exclaimed, for the 
freedman of Artus was now in the service of Decius 
and had pleaded to accompany the latter on the 
journey. 

"Take one farewell glance toward Rome!” con- 
tinued the senator, "Soon we leave for rougher re- 
gions. Thou knowest that the triumphs were in my 
opinion, premature, for 'songs of triumph before final 
victory are tuneless.’ Germania was delayed, not 
conquered. These very words I said to Augustus, 
and thou knowest my belief caused me to carry my 
gray hairs to that wild country.” 

"And right thou art, O, Decius. Born in Gaul, 
I know those people even better than thou. The 
German spirit can be bent, not broken, for they have 
men whose very blood is metal and who despise life 
when it separates them from freedom. Would not 
revenge be sweeter than life itself to them when 
they remember, O Decius, the violations by Romans 
of the sanctity of their domestic shrines ? Thou hast 
seen Arminius of the Cherusci, valiant of heart and 
arm, eyes flashing the fire of his soul and who, 
though sired by Segimerus, is a son even greater 
than the father ! All^it young in years, he is distin- 
guished by military service in the auxiliary legions, 
and has been honored by Rome with the rank of 
knight. His tribe fairly worships him; likewise he 
holds highest respect of the Marsi, the Bructeri and 
the Chatti. I tell thee, Decius, that while such men 


350 


as tfte ©000 Decree 


remained unchained, their country will never remain 
a Roman province!” 

“O, Hercules, I would that Augustus had heard 
thy words! Then I vow by Jupiter! he would not 
have left during this long period, — for even a single 
day is long when aught is wrong, — would not have 
left, I say, the avaricious and rapacious Quintilius 
Varus, indolent in body as in mind, to rule that 
war-like country. Germania offers no pro-consulate, 
such as that of Syria ! O, how Romans tire me with 
their love of the triumphal car in which they ride 
in state that the rabble may gaze in wonderment at 
their greatness, and yet, by Pollux ! they descend in 
haste when their stomachs ache !” 

Hercules laughed, and then said seriously : 

‘‘And this thing further they truly tell. The vic- 
tories of the Germans take no form of triumph, but 
are given as offerings to their gods, Wodan, Thor 
and the rest. The flames of worship consume the 
spoils of war upon the altars of deities!” 

“And therefore it is strange,” replied Decius, 
“that Fortune does not smile on them! Meanwhile 
Rome becomes foul with wealth !” 

He folded his arms and gazed in the direction of 
distant Rome, then said gently: 

“Yet I am content. O Hercules, that the gods 
have so favored me in my old age. Those I love 
I have left happy. Decia is still the worshipper of 
Glaccus, who rises steadily in life; their children’s 
children, too, cry the name of Decius ! Alas ! Artus 
and Aegea have preceded me to the regions of the 
shades where soon, however, I will join them! Great 
Augustus, too, loves and clings to me. I have power, 
fame, wealth — and a share of happiness! Truly 


as tiit (©oDs Decree 35i 


when man reaches this stage in life, is it not time 
for him to die?’' 

Hercules replied : 

‘'I do not follow thy Roman philosophy. Me- 
thinks it is but the time to live!” 

‘Thy judgment errs, O, Hercules. I say it is 
the most proper time to die, that in his last moments 
a man may survey all that for which he struggled 
through the years, — and — and when the soul hungers 
as mine hungers now for my Aurelia, gone from 
me these near fifty years, even a thing, so bitter as 
death, would taste sweet 1” 

Hercules turned his head aside and murmured : 

“O, great noble, to have loved a shade for fifty 
years !” 

Decius walked up and down with halting steps. 
During these few minutes it appeared as though the 
weight of years bore heavily upon him, yet none 
could have failed to recognize in him one of the 
patre conscripti of whom Rome could well be proud. 

Having deserted the rheda for the horse, he fol- 
lowed the road which led from Vetera on the 
Rhenus, eastward to Aliso, the headquarters of 
Varus, whence he continued his journey, guided by 
the line of small posts that had been established by 
Varus to preserve the connection between the Rhine 
River and the summer quarters on the Weser. 
Eventually, Decius accompanied by his mounted es- 
cort, rode into the camp of Quintilius Varus one day 
in the autumn. Though his reception by the com- 
mander was marked by certain courtesy, it was easy 
to perceive that Varus was not pleased at the arrival 
of this senator, a member of the Imperial Concilium. 

“Welcome in the name of Jupiter!” said Varus, 


352 


as tbt Decree 


‘‘yet may I ask/’ he added, haughtily, '‘if Rome 
trusts not my courage or my mind that thou shouldst 
be sent to watch my government here? See, yon- 
der are all commodities we need, brought by my 
orders to feed my legions. Thus I serve Rome with- 
out added cost of money for her greatness, for I 
make the people hereabouts provide us with necessi- 
ties. Caesar himself could have done no better!” 

A frown appeared on the face of Decius, who 
said : 

“Varus, I like not thy words. I come, not as an 
enemy to stir dissension in thy camp, but as a friend 
and with the Imperial sphinx of Augustus to vouch 
for me. Thou canst not deny that my gray hairs 
and temples worn bare by the helmet, can aid thee 
in solidifying our hold upon these wild men I — Aye, 
Caesar himself would indeed have done otherwise, 
if it is to the shade of Julius thou dost refer, for I 
was with him when he crossed the Rubicon ! — and I 
know! Rome is not too poor to give payment for 
supplies her legions need! Exactions of tribute, 
when unjust, may cost a thousand times their value. 
Within the praetorium we will discuss it further.” 

Varus led the way, and as they walked through 
the camp, Decius was greeted with loud shouts and 
cheers from the legionaries, who thus paid homage 
to this veteran, an honored survivor of the bloody 
wars of the past ! Decius saluted them. 

The following day Segimerus and his son, Armin- 
ius, accompanied by a number of chieftains, were 
announced. 

“I have invited them to a feast this night,” said 
Varus to Decius; “I take all measures to cement 
their friendship with us,” and when they entered, he 


ag tht (SoUg Decree 


353 


added: ‘‘These are my friends and allies; Arminius 
here holds the rank of Roman Knighthood! They 
have all learned to respect Rome’s power and to 
realize her good intentions toward their people.” 

When the Germans had left to wander about the 
camp until the banquet was ready to be served, De- 
cius said : 

“Varus, thou canst well judge a man by his coun- 
tenance and I warn thee to trust them not. They 
act too much in concert, like wine-merchants in the 
Velabrum. Thy campaign into strange lands de- 
notes poor judgment. Remember, Varus, war gives 
no opportunity for repeating a mistake 1 Thou hast 
over-confidence in supposed allies upon whom the 
yoke of Roman laws and functions and, too, licenti- 
ous outrages, cannot but weigh most heavily. Re- 
member, repentance follows hasty counsel ; therefore 
think more upon this matter. A beaten path is a 
safe one; ponder, ere thou dost invade forest and 
morass to conquer strange hordes where thy sup- 
posed friends, the chiefs themselves, have lost!” 

“Thou hast no need to come with me,” said Varus, 
haughtily. 

“Varus,” said Decius quietly, “thy speech is un- 
warranted. The many honors that have been be- 
stowed upon me, prove my courage and ability in 
both war and peace, whilst thou, with thy life of 
ease behind thee, and reckoning, as thou dost, thy 
poor experience in the government of the debased 
natives of Syria, dost place thy judgment against 
mine ! I come to advise thee for the good of Rome. 
Prudence is the charioteer of all virtues, yet — thou 
canst lead or follow, — to me it matters not — I will 
go with thee even to tlie Imperial realms of Hecate I 


354 


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By Hercules ! this sword arm with its fourscore years 
and more can give as keen a thrust as thine! I 
admire thy courage, deplore thy hot temper, regret 
thy inexperience and predict that thou wilt never 
live to carry as many honored years as Decius !’^ 

“Pardon, noble Decius, my temper; I come by it 
honestly. Thou knowest even in animals there exists 
the spirit of their sires. Yet I must march. I have 
given my word — and, too, it is necessary to crush 
that rebellion, for thus only can I preserve these 
tribes as my allies. Rome’s power is strengthened 
by union. ’Tis most necessary policy!” 

“It is too heavily burdened with the element of 
chance to be the best,” said Decius, “yet thou dost 
wear the paludamentum here. I can but advise.” 

* s|t jK * 3|c 

The 17th, 1 8th and 19th Legions of Rome, to- 
gether with a large body of cavalry, numerous aux- 
iliaries, many women and children and a vast num- 
ber of baggage wagons, had been set in motion at 
the word of Varus. The line of march was south- 
westerly and rain had, in many places, caused the 
soil to become sodden, impracticable alike for cavalry 
and infantry. For some distance the route lay along 
a level plain. It was necessary, however, to make a 
rough roadway that would permit the passage of 
the army which soon arrived close to the thickly 
grown woods of the saltiis Teutohurgiensis. Trees 
were hewn, pits and morasses filled up and even 
bridges built across ravines to enable the army with 
its great volume of baggage to continue its difficult 
march, rendered more so by the heavy rains of the 
season. The watchful discipline usually observed 
in the Roman armies during their progress through 


3sf tbt ©oDS Dectec 


355 


suspected, countries, was not enforced. In silence, 
Quintilius Varus watched the activity of the work- 
ing parties of his soldiers. Beside him rode Decius 
and the latter’s constant attendant, Hercules. Ar- 
minius and his chieftains had already left under a 
pretext. Ere long, the Roman army arrived at the 
tract between the curve of the upper part of the 
Lippe and the sources of the Ems. This was the 
spot Arminius had fixed upon for his blow! A 
storm was raging and rain had already rendered 
many of the weapons of the Romans useless. De- 
cius spoke to Varus. 

"‘By the gods, I like it not! Desperate maladies 
require desperate remedies! For the last time I 
advise thee to boldly summon Arminius and his 
chieftains and hold them as hostages for the safety 
of the legions, else. Varus, will Rome’s welfare pay 
for it. Why, O why, didst thou turn a deaf ear to 
Segestes ?” 

“Segestes bears personal enmity to Arminius, 
whom he charges with ravishing a daughter, 
Thusnelda. Thy fears are founded on thy weight 
of years, — the words of Segestes, upon lies and 
cowardice. I will return a double conqueror.” 

“Sing not of triumph before victory, Varus,” 
said Decius. 

Hardly had he ceased speaking, when a hushed 
roar travelled through the legions. It soon arose 
above the thunder of the tempest, for Arminius, after 
having again harangued the barbarians, had given 
the signal and the hordes let fly their bolts of war! 
The Roman army was practically surrounded and 
the rear guard had been attacked. The Roman le- 
gions stretched out in a lengthy line, scattered by 


356 


as ti)e <®oDs Decree 


entanglements of forest and morass, were at first too 
dazed to return a single blow. On both flanks and 
from surrounding heights with lofty forests of oak, 
the darts of death descended. The light armed aux- 
iliaries of Germany had deserted ! It was impossible 
to deploy the heavily-armed legionaries and form 
line of battle. The madness of one makes many 
mad; the fear of death is worse than death itself. 
Panic reigned, aided and abetted by the very ap- 
pearance of the Germans, many of whom wore skins 
of wild beasts, arranged in such manner that the 
fur of the animal’s head formed a hood out of which 
the eyes of the barbarians could be seen glaring 
fiercely beneath the grinning tusks of a boar or the 
horns of a wild bull. Arminius had given orders 
to aim at the steeds and these wounded and slipping 
in the mire of mud and blood, created havoc in the 
ranks. Loud shouts of tribunes and centurions, 
however, aided by continual blasts of the tuba and 
lituus, brought some order out of chaos. Still the 
darts and spears played havoc with the legions as 
thousands upon thousands of barbarians charged 
upon their hated enemies, with wild chants, rude 
trumpets pealing, prayers for victory to their gods 
and curses on their lips, — swept downward in mighty 
hordes! The rain fell in torrents, the elements in- 
deed aiding Germania, and it seemed as though the 
vials of their wrath were being poured upon the 
Romans ! Pent-up hatred of years now rushed forth 
in a fury of insane excitement ; thoughts of ravished 
daughters, of hearthstones defiled, caused a verita- 
ble thirst for Roman blood ! 

Varus completely lost his head. The firm grasp 
of Decius on his arm, however, served to rouse him. 


90 tfte ©000 Decree 


357 


“Break through, Varus, break through! For- 
ward! We must make camp for the night; on the 
morrow we will fight them in the open !” 

Varus gave the necessary orders, trumpets again 
sent forth blasts, and the weight of Roman arms 
served to enable the army to reach an open stretch 
of marshy ground before evening. The women, 
children and the baggage having been placed in the 
center, camp was made and fortified. The Romans 
had left a long blood stained track in their wake! 

Night folded over the scene. 

The army was safe within the camp, and each man 
seemed to feel that the morrow would bring victory. 
Had not Roman arms often been extricated from 
difficult positions! Hope had again arisen, for 
Varus announced that on the morrow, the legions 
would cut through to Aliso. None slept, for outside 
of the Roman camp could be seen the fires of the 
barbarians and the altars of their deities adorned 
with tortured bodies of centurions and lawyers, the 
latter the despised jurisconsulti, who had been cap- 
tured that day and whose shrieks of agony resound- 
ed throughout the night. When the lightning 
flashed, these victims could be seen hung on trees, 
surrounding the camp. Indeed the sounds of their 
brothers now in agony, coupled with cries of the 
wounded and wails from the women and children 
within the camp, heard at intervals between peals of 
thunder, prevented all from closing their eyes. 

Decius sat conversing with Hercules and Lucius 
Eggius, the latter one of the prefects of the camp 
who had distinguished himself that day. 

“Gods ! Eggius/’ said Decius, “it was a joy to see 
thee fight!” 


358 30 tU <goD 0 Decree 

Hope was their comfort in adversity and all took 
courage. 

On the morrow they would fight their way to 
Aliso! All unnecessary baggage was burnt during 
the night, and soon after dawn the women and chil- 
dren having been placed in the center, the army was 
set in motion. In the open stretch of ground, the 
Roman lines were formed in battle array. Varus 
knew that in combat in the open, the clumsily armed 
Germans with their ineffective protective armor, 
would be no match for the legionaries. Arminius 
too, realizing this fact, refused to give battle. The 
Roman formation was therefore necessarily changed, 
a column was formed for the march, and soon the 
Romans again entered dense woods. Their enemies, 
taking courage from the success of the previous day, 
became more aggressive and attacked in close combat 
with their long two-handed swords, heavy spears, 
battle axes and clubs. The battle waged throughout 
the entire day ; the weight of the German wedges was 
invincible, and the bloody line in the wake of the 
Romans had been lengthened! Varus, who had been 
wounded, was bandaged. The Romans were sur- 
rounded by frenzied hordes of thousands and thous- 
ands of Germans who, in the excitement of battle 
and their hatred, struggled to get at their enemies, 
virtually climbing over their wounded comrades to 
gain a single blow at Rome ! The legionaries strug- 
gled up the glens and floundered in the morasses. 
The Germans, watching every opportunity, charged 
through the disjointed column, breaking the line 
into numerous parts. The Roman cavalry, com- 
manded by the cowardly Numonius Vala, had de- 


30 tfte (00 D 0 Decree 


359 


serted. Piece by piece, the Roman army became 
practically decimated. The overpowering numbers 
of their enemies had cast the Roman pride and 
power of the morning into the mud of Germania! 

Varus, with tears in his eyes, stood silent beside 
Decius. It was too late for reproach. 

Suddenly the commander threw himself upon the 
ground, his form shaking with sobs. 

“Yield not to calamity, Varus, but face it boldly,’^ 
said Decius, but Varus shouted : 

“O Rome, forgive me!” and threw himself upon 
his sword, which pierced his heart. His example 
was followed by his officers. Decius, however, looked 
disdainfully at them. 

“To die thus! To die thus! while many of their 
men still live! Nay, I will not!” 

At that moment a legionary bleeding in the breast, 
ran up to Decius. He had come from a body of 
veterans who were fighting nearby. 

“Will some one lead us?” he shouted, “We will 
not surrender! — O, Varus, dead!” he exclaimed, as 
he saw the body of his commander lying at the feet 
of Decius. 

“Come !” cried Decius, “I will lead ye !” 

“Thou! thou!” said the legionary, as he gazed at 
the aged man. 

“Aye, Decius, who fought at Philippi, shall lead 
ye ! Come !” he shouted as he guided his horse, fol- 
lowed by Hercules, in the direction in which the 
veteran led them. 

When Decius reached the heroic legionaries they 
sent forth a mighty cheer. It was as though the 


360 


30 tfte (SdD 0 Decree 


Decius!” they shouted as they clanged 
their swords on their shields and cried: '‘Eii! Eii! 
loT and Decius smiled upon them. 

Ere nightfall the few survivors fought their way 
to a small mound where they formed a circle. Night 
folded over the scene. The enemy ceased the at- 
tack. The quarry was caged! The morrow would 
come ! There was no need for haste — before dawn I 

Again the barbarians offered up victims to their 
deities, and in the lull of the storm were heard the 
shrieks of tortured prisoners, though many captives 
were saved for future ceremonies. 

“O, noble Decius!’' said Hercules in the night, 
‘T beg thee let me pierce thy breast! Live not to 
adorn such sacrifices ! Thy gods will give me 
strength to serve thee with my sword arm !” for the 
Gaul had been wounded. 

Decius clasped the wrist of the freedman and said : 

“No, Hercules, my armor is not even dented!” 

Morning dawned gray and misty. From all around 
could be heard the shouts and laughter of the Ger- 
mans. 

Arminius, surrounded by his chieftains, ap- 
proached the mound whence the hopeless survivors 
peered forth. 

“Surrender, and we will spare the tortures !” said 
Arminius. 

Decius answered him : 

“Thou foul traitor of Cerberus ! The gods curse 
thee ! Rome will avenge us ! Come !” 

He raised his naked sword on high, presenting a 
wonderful picture of courage. Fallen were the 
years from the aged shoulders of Decius ! The metal 
of young Roman manhood resounded as this aged 


ast tfee <5oti0 Decree 


361 


man clanged his sword on his shield and dared the 
thousands and the thousands to assail him ! A single 
ray from the rising sun penetrating the surrounding 
oaks, illuminated his countenance. The barbarians 
paused and gazed at him in admiration not unmixed 
with superstitious awe, for they saw a strange figure 
with a flowing white strand of hair peering forth 
from beneath his helmet, a flash of supernatural fire 
playing about his eyes. 

Many of the barbarians shouted : ‘^Spare him, Ar- 
minius, spare him !” for valor, even in an enemy, is 
worthy of praise! But Arminius shook his head 
negatively and the vast hordes, grasping their wea- 
pons with tighter holds, closed in upon the survivors. 

'Take them alive!” was the order carried from 
mouth to mouth. 

Decius as he saw the enemy pouring down upon 
him shouted : 

“Cut thy heart, Hercules ! Farewell, O my Decia, 
my Glaccus and all my children! Open thy arms, 
Aurelia, I come, I come!” 

At the approaching enemy he again shouted : 

“Rome will avenge us!” and threw himself upon 
his sword, and “the gods” fulfilled his wish of years 
and years ago, for his armor was soon “dented and 
cut through a hundred times” ! 

In death a smile crept to his noble face ! Arminius, 
surrounded by his chieftains and standing with fold- 
ed arms over the lifeless body of Decius, was deeply 
engrossed in thought. The inspired words of Decius 
still range through his ears: 

“Rome will avenge us !” 

FINIS 



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